It seems like the entire world is focusing on the 2009 U.S. holiday shopping season. Around this time each year, the media, clients and friends ask us countless questions on the subject. Most people want to know what a so-called “expert” thinks will happen on any given event. Predicting the future is impossible because the simple truth is that no one really knows what will happen. Instead, these “experts” offer their opinion which at times will be correct and other times will be incorrect. After all, we all know how valuable opinions are, right?