Holidays

  • People walking by Nordstrom's New York City store at the holidays.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    US e-commerce spend reached nearly $258B over the holidays

    Adobe Analytics data found consumer spending grew 6.8% compared to 2024, with buy now, pay later usage reaching a new high.

    By • Jan. 7, 2026
  • People shopping on a downtown street.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    December sales drop over 2% at small retail businesses despite traffic bump

    Even at the holidays shoppers prioritized essentials, and inflation-adjusted discretionary sales at smaller stores fell 1.8% year on year, per Fiserv.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
  • Holiday shopper Explore the Trendline➔
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    How retailers can win over shoppers during the holidays

    Retailers are pulling all the levers to drive loyalty during the industry’s all-important quarter.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • Three boxes stacked with a bow on top in a holiday scene.
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    Getty Images
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    Visa, Mastercard track roughly 4% US holiday retail sales growth

    The 2025 holiday season saw consumers shopping across channels to land the best deals and maximize convenience, according to new reports. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Jan. 6, 2026
  • Two screenshots of Target app using the Find Bullseye hunting feature
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    Permission granted by Target
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    What shaped retail’s holiday season in 2025

    It was a year of AI-generated gift recommendations, tariff upheaval and increased financial stress on shoppers.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Jan. 6, 2026
  • A customer browses a computer in front of a Christmas tree.
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    Getty Images
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    Most consumers interacted with AI customer service during holiday shopping

    Consumers’ response to AI and automation is largely positive, but a majority still say humans provide better support, a Liveops survey found.

    By Bryan Wassel • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Returns expected to spike in the new year

    Compared to earlier in the holiday season, returns will rise by up to 15% in the first two weeks of this month, according to Adobe Analytics.

    By Howard Ruben • Jan. 5, 2026
  • A red Levi's tab sign against a bright blue sky.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Levi’s adds Target vet to board, plus more Black Friday ‘standouts’

    Jeffrey Jones, a former chief marketer at Target, will join the apparel maker in January. Meanwhile, analysts called out On and Hoka as big winners from the sale season.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Dec. 19, 2025
  • People walking by Nordstrom's New York City store at the holidays.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    NRF expects ‘record’ number of Super Saturday shoppers

    Of those who plan to shop, nearly half will do so both online and in stores, with department stores and discount retailers among the top destinations.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
  • Stressed hispanic man paying for a lot of christmas gifts
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    Getty Images
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    Combating the consumer ‘joy deficit’ this season

    Prices are high, shoppers are stressed out and anxiety-inducing marketing doesn’t help. Here’s what retailers can do instead.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
  • TJMaxx holiday tour.
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    Courtesy of TJMaxx
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    T.J. Maxx goes on holiday tour in a double-decker bus

    The decked-out “Maxxinista Express” stops in multiple cities and takes superfans along for a full day of shopping. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 15, 2025
  • People walk in a shopping mall.
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    Eduardo Munoz Alvarez via Getty Images
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    When holiday deals cause customer confusion, skepticism

    In an attempt to boost revenue and gain market share, brands often overpromise and underdeliver on holiday promotions. 

    By Michael Brady • Dec. 15, 2025
  • Walmart employee with two crates on a dolly outside of someone's home
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    Retrieved from Walmart.
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    Walmart touts delivery for last-minute gifts

    The big-box retailer says it can reach 95% of U.S. households within 3 hours and it is using streamlined delivery to entice consumers to shop — even on Christmas Eve.

    By Howard Ruben • Dec. 12, 2025
  • White exterior of Anthropologie storefront in Washington, D.C., with sale signs
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    Dani James/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Consumers lean on BNPL and Walmart gets excited about Anthropologie

    Reliance on buy now, pay later services has ticked up during the holidays, and the big-box retailer is bringing Anthropologie to its headquarters. 

    By Retail Dive Staff • Dec. 12, 2025
  • A person walks into a retail store. The word "Gap" is displayed outside the store.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Gap’s supply chain productivity gains fuel holiday confidence

    Technology upgrades in fulfillment centers and more rigorous inventory management have the company feeling strong amid the year-end retail rush.

    By Philip Neuffer • Dec. 10, 2025
  • Sienna Spiro for Gap's 2025 "Give Your Gift" campaign.
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    Courtesy of Gap
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    Q&A

    How Gap is leveraging the brand’s Katseye success for the holidays

    Global Chief Marketing Officer Fabiola Torres details the recent extension of “Give Your Gift,” a campaign that has generated over 30 million views since its November launch. 

    By Jessica Hammers • Dec. 10, 2025
  • Reflections in a department store window advertising the holidays.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Saks Global is stuck

    The fourth quarter is pivotal for almost any retailer, but especially one that has a lot to prove to vendors, investors and customers. Some observers see a 2026 bankruptcy as inevitable.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • People walking down the street and cars driving in a city.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Reporter’s notebook: New York City’s last department stores

    A trek around the island of Manhattan at retail's busiest time of year.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • HomeGoods Marshalls store front
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    "Marshall's Home Goods Store" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Off-price retailers neutralize tariff impact

    Inventory and pricing strategies helped TJX, Ross and Burlington protect margins in Q3, and they expect even greater success in Q4.

    By • Dec. 8, 2025
  • Holiday decorations on the outside of a department store.
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    Courtesy of Macy's
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    Macy’s cautiously optimistic about the holidays

    The department store retailer had its strongest Q3 comps in over three years, but said it’s braced for a cautious consumer and the impact of tariffs.

    By • Dec. 3, 2025
  • White exterior of Anthropologie storefront in Washington, D.C., with sale signs
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    Dani James/Retail Dive
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    BNPL drives over $1B in online spend on Cyber Monday

    Overall spending on the digital shopping day topped $14 billion in the U.S., per Adobe Analytics. Shopify also touted record sales despite technical difficulties.

    By • Dec. 2, 2025
  • Interior J. Crew storefront with mannequins modelling red winter clothing next to holiday gifts
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    Dani James/Retail Dive
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    E-commerce growth surpasses stores on Black Friday, with sales up over 10%

    Top-selling sectors over the holiday weekend included apparel and athletics, according to early data.

    By • Dec. 1, 2025
  • A mall entrance to a clothing store named "Pacsun."
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Pacsun, Camping World and Lush launch on-demand delivery with Uber

    In the midst of the busy holiday shopping season, customers can now use the Uber, Uber Eats and Postmates apps to order from the retailers.

    By Howard Ruben • Dec. 1, 2025
  • Crowds in front of Mall of America on Black Friday
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    Courtesy of Mall of America
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    Winners and losers of Black Friday 2025

    Online discounts were flat year over year. However, some retailers won with exclusive giveaways that enticed customers into stores.

    By • Nov. 29, 2025
  • A Free People clothing store in New York City.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Urban Outfitters expects highly promotional holiday

    Traffic, sales and profits surged in Q3, but now customers are waiting on discounts. “They know that the promotions are coming,” CEO Dick Hayne said.

    By • Nov. 26, 2025
  • Martha Stewart poses in a denim-wrapped kitchen for American Eagle's 2025 holiday campaign.
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    Courtesy of American Eagle
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    Why American Eagle tapped Martha Stewart to extend its reach beyond Gen Z

    After making headlines with its fall campaign, the retailer is targeting gift givers and recipients alike for the next chapter of its “Give Great Jeans” holiday push. 

    By Jessica Hammers • Nov. 25, 2025