February 5 Means . . .

For football fans, the Super Bowl. For supermarkets, the Super Bowl began on the second day of January, when holiday displays were replaced with "big game" displays of chips, dips, and every other snack food or drink a fan might possibly want. Grocery ads are hyping party platters, and all other related products. Needless to say, this is a big time of year for TV sales, and the electronics retailers are vying for those purchases in a big way.

For non-fans, the New York Times reports that reservations are available in gourmet restaurants, tickets can be had for popular Broadway shows, ski slopes are empty, and other things that are difficult on any other Sunday in February are easier on February 5.

Even for fans, this year's Super Bowl coverage may be TMI. There will be celebrity talk shows broadcasting from Indianapolis, interviews with NFL wives, charity tie-ins, and a seemingly endless round of place-based promotions (in stores, in taxis, at gas stations, etc).

February 5 will be the biggest sales day of the year for pizza restaurants. No wonder the promotions are starting now. Papa John's is offering a special for members of its loyalty program, based on the coin toss.

Oh, and the NY Giants will be playing the New England Patriots on February 5th, by the way. But if you're not a fan, you might tune in anyway to see the new crop of commercials that debut on Super Bowl Sunday.