Holidays: Page 2

  • A person in a blue shirt holding a package.
    Image attribution tooltip
    BongkarnThanyakij via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Consumers could return $82.1B worth of holiday merchandise, survey finds

    To address the rising cost of returns, 44% of retailers have increased return or restocking fees, according to CBRE and Optoro.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 29, 2023
  • An Amazon driver loads packages into a delivery van at an Amazon delivery station on November 28, 2022 in Alpharetta, Georgia.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Free shipping is more important to shoppers than same-day delivery: Forrester

    The costs of implementing same-day and next-day delivery might not be worth it given the level of consumer interest in the service.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 28, 2023
  • Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Ben White for Unsplash
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    A look at the 2024 holiday season

    Technology will play a key role in holiday sales this year, Adobe revealed in its latest holiday report. 

    By Retail Dive staff
  • A customer is greeted by a cashier
    Image attribution tooltip
    bluecinema via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Returns are the last, but not least, component of a holiday CX strategy

    The last thing retailers should do is make gift recipients feel guilty for making a return, according to experts. 

    By Bryan Wassel • Dec. 27, 2023
  • Perfume bottles sit on a desk with an open book.
    Image attribution tooltip
    NastyaSensei. Retrieved from Pexels.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fragrance sees online boost during early part of holiday season: report

    Online sales of prestige fragrance brands were nearly double the rate of in-store sales in the early part of Q4, according to Circana.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 26, 2023
  • Warehouse supervisor walking and talking with senior manager.
    Image attribution tooltip
    zeljkosantrac via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    ’Tis the season for a retail tech-stack rethink

    An influx of in-store technologies has CIOs leaning toward cloud for integration solutions, according to research by Bain and Aptos.

    By Matt Ashare • Dec. 26, 2023
  • Brown paper wrapped gifts with string ties.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Vadym Petrochenko via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    Can retail sell hygge?

    The Scandinavian concept of cozy gatherings and togetherness fits in well with the holidays. Until the excessive purchasing begins.

    By • Dec. 24, 2023
  • A red storefront entrance with a white dot-in-circle logo and an "order pickup" sign on the door. Trees and blue sky with white clouds on the right.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shoppers use BOPIS to avoid holiday shipping delays: report

    Buy online, pick up in store accounted for one-fourth of online orders in the three weeks after Cyber Monday, according to Salesforce. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 21, 2023
  • A family walks down a Walmart aisle.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Walmart
    Image attribution tooltip

    Walmart outpaces Target, Macy’s for most recent holiday purchases: report

    A fourth of respondents to a new survey said their last holiday shopping stop was at the big box retailer, followed by Target and Kohl’s. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 21, 2023
  • A cargo ship on the Suez Canal
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Suez Canal Authority
    Image attribution tooltip

    Holiday shelves unaffected by Suez Canal attacks, but retailers anticipate disruptions in the new year

    Retail industry groups are monitoring the situation, which is adding time and costs to the supply chain as shippers seek alternative routes.

    By • Dec. 20, 2023
  • Target content on the Las Vegas Sphere
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Target
    Image attribution tooltip

    Target brings dog mascot Bullseye to Las Vegas Sphere for holiday blitz

    The largest version of the bull terrier character yet is joined by an 11-story gingerbread Target for the snowglobe-inspired takeover.

    By Peter Adams • Dec. 20, 2023
  • A person wearing glasses and a striped sweater looks into a box with a concerned look.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Andrii Zastrozhnov via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Are retailers ready for peak returns season?

    E-commerce has surged at the end of the year, which could mean that more people than ever will bring back their purchases.

    By • Dec. 19, 2023
  • Stack of credit cards spread out
    Image attribution tooltip
    bernie_photo via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Half of US consumers expect to take on holiday debt: survey

    Over a third of consumers expect to pay their holiday bills in two or more months, according to a new report. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2023
  • The inside of a mall.
    Image attribution tooltip
    "Nordstrom wing of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City" by Ben Schumin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Super Saturday timing means fewer expected shoppers this year, survey finds

    The National Retail Federation predicts 142 million people will shop that day, which falls on Dec. 23, down from 159 million last year.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 15, 2023
  • A young person sits at a desk in front of a computer while a Christmas tree is in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Krisada tepkulmanont via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Black Friday, Cyber Monday saw ‘lackluster’ consumer tech sales, report finds

    Both unit and dollar sales declined year over year during Black Friday Week, and the average price of products was down during Cyber Monday Week.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 14, 2023
  • The outside of the Macy's store in Herald Square in NYC during the holidays.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Macy’s, Anne Klein partner on NYC pop-up shop

    The apparel brand, which has partnered with Macy’s in the past, will showcase items from its latest collection at the temporary store. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 14, 2023
  • Person shops for holiday items at Target.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Target
    Image attribution tooltip

    Target woos last-minute holiday shoppers with extended hours

    The retailer is also offering same-day fulfillment options through Shipt and its own Order Pickup and Drive Up services through Christmas Eve.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 13, 2023
  • Michael's Arts & Crafts Store, Newington, CT, 2/2015 by Mike Mozart of TheToyChannel and JeepersMedia on YouTube
    Image attribution tooltip
    "Michael's" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Michaels, PetSmart partner on holiday promotion

    The two brands have come together to provide each other’s customers with exclusive savings offers. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 13, 2023
  • A worker in a yellow vest inspects a package with the Target logo as it makes its way down a conveyor belt.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Target
    Image attribution tooltip

    November hiring growth slightly up from 2022: report

    Though some major retailers are hiring seasonal workers this holiday, employers are relatively cautious in their hiring plans overall.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 12, 2023
  • An Express storefront at King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Express
    Image attribution tooltip

    5 retailers that need a strong finish for the year

    These retailers have borrowed heavily, delivered soft performance, seen substantial leadership turnover or operate in a heavily discretionary sector. Can they turn themselves around?

    By • Dec. 12, 2023
  • person looking at credit card and laptop
    Image attribution tooltip

    Unsplash.com/rupixen

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Justt

    How to deal with order fulfillment challenges during the holiday shopping season

    Prepare for the 2023 holiday season with expert strategies for effective order fulfillment. Discover how to meet high demand, handle order spikes, and optimize your supply chain to ensure customer satisfaction and avoid holiday anxiety.

    By Ronen Shnidman • Dec. 11, 2023
  • To the right of a mall store entrance, a minimalist gray granite facade features the red and white Lululemon logo and white lettering.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Despite Black Friday blockbuster, Lululemon maintains its holiday outlook

    The brand continues to defy expectations, but may finally be approaching a plateau as competition rises and consumers remain cautious.

    By • Dec. 8, 2023
  • Woman shopping online during holiday season
    Image attribution tooltip
    Tijana Simic via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Half of U.S. consumers left most of their shopping for December: report

    Even though many retailers launched deals in October, a portion of holiday shoppers have waited until this month to start, according to a survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 8, 2023
  • A customer pays for a purchase with a mobile device
    Image attribution tooltip
    Creative via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    More holiday shoppers to buy with small businesses: survey

    Interest in buying gifts in-store is higher at independent businesses than at some large retailers like Macy’s and Best Buy, according to a report.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 6, 2023
  • Kohl's store in downtown Milwaukee.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Kohl's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Kohl’s extends holiday bargains through December

    The retailer is rolling out aggressive holiday deals this month, giving shoppers the opportunity to earn Kohl's Cash daily through Dec. 24.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 4, 2023
  • A giant Bath & Body Works candle on the streets of New York City
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Bath & Body Works
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bath & Body Works drops 10-foot candle to help holiday shoppers unwind

    The installation is part of a new creative platform centered on reconnecting with the senses amid daily stressors like rush hour traffic and work emails.

    By Peter Adams • Dec. 4, 2023