Large retailers only have access to certain licensed products intended for mass-market sales. The Peanuts line is one example.
The high-end items are made in very small quantities and are sold only by authorized dealers, who, as I understand, are restricted from heavily discounting them on clearances until the item is retired.
You won’t be finding the Hogwarts buildings on clearance this year.
Now, I did get lucky with a seasonal shop in a mall that clearances all of its products so it can close up by Dec. 31. I bought the spendy St. Paul Basilica building for half price more than a decade ago. The shop may have flown under Department 56’s radar because of its seasonal nature. Not sure if Department 56 ever caught on. I noticed the shop only stocks licensed items now.
Department 56 is owned by Enesco, the makers of Precious Moments statues, which also tries to protect its price structure on behalf of dealers.
