It’s a shorter holiday season. Does that matter?

There are five fewer days between Black Friday and Christmas Day compared to 2023. Here’s how retailers — and consumers — are preparing themselves.

By Caroline Jansen • Nov. 19, 2024

Pinterest introduces celebrity gift guides, shoppable wishlists

The social media platform is banking on curated gift lists from the likes of Alicia Keys and Wirecutter to win shoppers this season.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 15, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Inside the 2024 holiday season

Retailers are navigating the effects of inflation as retail’s most important quarter looms.

By Retail Dive staff

The Weekly Closeout: Target extends store hours for the holidays, Nuuly launches ‘The Thrift Shop’

The mass merchant will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight from Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, while the subscription company debuted a perk for discounted styles.

By Retail Dive Staff • Nov. 15, 2024

Nordstrom leverages generative AI for holiday app refresh

Among the new app features are trend reports, which blend the expertise of Nordstrom stylists with artificial intelligence to deliver relevant trends. 

By Aaron Baar • Nov. 15, 2024

Target debuts ‘weirdly hot’ Santa for second holiday advertising push

The retailer is running two distinct holiday campaigns for the first time to appeal to consumers who view the season as too transactional.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 15, 2024

US holiday retail sales to reach $1 trillion

About a quarter of those sales will occur online this year, a Forrester report predicts.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 14, 2024

Holiday sales growth expected to stay below 10-year average

Retailers are likely to lean on discounts to drive sales as consumers continue feeling the pressure of inflation, according to an S&P Global Ratings report.

By Nate Delesline III • Nov. 14, 2024

NBA players Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball star in Foot Locker’s holiday campaign

Grammy-nominated artist Coi Leray is also featured in the ads, which will air across paid media, in-store displays, social channels and more.

By Howard Ruben • Nov. 13, 2024

How retailers are making it harder to shop, just in time for the holidays

Thwarting customers, in stores or online, isn’t any way to make a sale.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 12, 2024

Von Maur opens first store in Pennsylvania

The family-owned department store chain plans to open its first store in North Dakota next year and is investing $100 million to renovate its existing stores.

By Nate Delesline III • Nov. 11, 2024

‘Contradictions and mixed signals’ in the economy won’t affect holiday sales growth: NRF

The trade organization is maintaining its holiday forecast for the year, stating that households are in decent financial shape. 

By Nate Delesline III • Nov. 11, 2024

67% of parents will use BNPL to finance the holidays

Parents are using pay later plans to justify large purchases and better manage their finances, according to a new survey. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 8, 2024

Amazon debuts virtual holiday shop

The immersive 3D shopping experience includes music, animations and a guided journey to help with product discovery.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 7, 2024

Benefit Cosmetics launches first virtual 3D shopping experience

The grocery store-inspired digital space, dubbed “The Benemart,” blends gaming and holiday shopping. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 7, 2024

Best Buy pushes tech in holiday ad series

The campaign features the retailer’s new hologram spokesperson, “Gram,” and addresses common problems like finding the perfect gift.

By Nate Delesline III • Nov. 6, 2024

Dick’s recreates iconic holiday film moments with NFL’s Watt brothers

In a new spot, former NFL player J.J. Watt is trapped in a Dick’s store after closing, leading to a series of silly antics.

By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 6, 2024

Amazon’s holiday campaign spotlights classic song, acts of kindness

“What the World Needs Now Is Love” features heavily in the effort that extends Amazon's focus on music around the holidays.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 5, 2024

Etsy focuses on personalized gifts in sprawling holiday campaign

Waldo, of “Where’s Waldo?” fame, travels the world but only feels seen upon returning home and receiving a thoughtful gift in the platform’s campaign.

By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 5, 2024

Target touts early Black Friday sale

This week, the retailer will hold a pre-Thanksgiving sale and has also begun offering daily and weekly deals.

By Nate Delesline III • Nov. 4, 2024

In time for the holidays, Affirm updates its app

Consumers made more purchases via BNPL platforms last holiday season. With the lingering impact of inflation, shoppers may do the same this year. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 31, 2024

The Backroom: Retailers creeping it real

Halloween will drive $11.6 billion in spending this year. Plus, it’s fun!

By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 31, 2024

Walmart+ annual membership fee slashed in half for the holidays

The retail giant is also offering trial subscriptions as usual amid a Black Friday-Cyber Monday push ahead of an extra-short season.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 30, 2024

Product review videos to influence holiday shopping

YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are the top social media platforms shoppers are using for research this season, according to a Circana report. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 30, 2024

Macy’s taps actress Alison Brie for holiday campaign

The spots, which depict Brie embodying the human version of the department store’s annual gift guide, will air across TV, digital and social channels.

By Howard Ruben • Oct. 29, 2024

Target Thanksgiving meal feeds 4 for $20

The retailer joins a slew of grocers that have rolled out holiday meal discounts in an effort to assuage consumer concern about food prices.

By Peyton Bigora • Oct. 29, 2024