12-foot skeletons, pet costumes and vaccines: Retailers get ready for a weird Halloween

With sales expected to boom, the holiday is an escape that many consumers are embracing after nearly two years of pandemic stress.

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 18, 2021

Best Buy starts Black Friday deals early amid supply chain woes

The retailer is offering deals to encourage consumers to shop early as widespread supply chain constraints loom over the season.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 15, 2021

Explore the 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

As retailers shaped holiday hiring plans, 721K retail workers quit in August

Employers including retailers are having to raise wages and otherwise sweeten their offer in order to lure people to take openings.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 13, 2021

Walmart and Target reassure customers they'll be stocked amid global supply chain squeeze

The retail giants outlined proactive measures they have taken to get goods into the country and onto shelves. For their smaller peers, the pressure is tighter.

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 13, 2021

The majority of consumers plan to shop early this year: report

Research indicates that shoppers want to spend more this year, but they're taking advantage of holiday deals sooner.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 13, 2021

Consumers plan to spend about 25% more this holiday season: JLL

This year's holiday season could resemble pre-pandemic spending levels, but retailers are still facing product and labor shortages.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 12, 2021

Remember when Macy's was the one removing department store names?

Now it's facing the unfortunate prospect of another retailer's logo splashed upon its hometown flagship, just in time for its famous Thanksgiving parade.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 12, 2021

Sam's Club unveils first holiday catalog

The retailer is also holding twice as many shopping events throughout the season so its members can shop early. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 11, 2021

Retailers are betting on wage hikes, perks to woo workers ahead of the holidays. Will it work?

Employers are offering incentives like sign-on bonuses, tuition assistance and higher pay to staff up, but challenges remain.

By Maria Monteros • Oct. 11, 2021

Office Depot, OfficeMax launch 20-minute pickup guarantee

If an order isn't ready on time, shoppers get $20 off their next qualifying purchase. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 8, 2021

Simon malls to close on Thanksgiving

A few years ago the REIT insisted on keeping its shopping centers open on the holiday, but joins other retailers in shutting down.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 8, 2021

REI to close on Thanksgiving, Black Friday for the seventh year in a row

As in past years, the outdoor retailer is asking its staff and the public to #OptOutside and enjoy the outdoors instead of shopping. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 7, 2021

USPS moves forward with extended delivery times despite concerns

A regulator said it was worried the shift would lead to deteriorating service. The Postal Service said the opposite will happen.

By Max Garland • Oct. 6, 2021

Amazon joins other retailers in pushing early holiday deals

Timing of what the e-commerce giant is calling "Black Friday-worthy" promotions resembles last year's delayed Prime Day event.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 4, 2021

Holiday spending projected to grow up to 5%: NPD

As more consumers plan on seeing relatives in the coming months, 29% of consumers plan to spend more than last year. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 4, 2021

'We're going to see a lot of bare shelves': Retail preps for a holiday beset by supply chain pain

Bottlenecks from factories to cargo ships mean less inventory and fewer discounts for the season.  

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 4, 2021

Over 30% of consumers plan to spend more on gifts in 2021: Klarna

A survey found that 62% of respondents plan on shopping with big-box retailers during the holiday season, followed by department stores and malls.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 1, 2021

Target sets off holiday shopping with deals, price matching

The retailer is incentivizing consumers to shop early as inventory constraints, labor shortages and supply chain issues loom over the season.

By Maria Monteros • Sept. 29, 2021

How major retailers are staffing up for the 2021 holiday season

Amazon is hiring 150,000 seasonal workers on top of the 125,000 transportation and fulfillment employees it began hiring for in September.

By Retail Dive Staff • Updated Oct. 18, 2021

Toymakers worry congestion will lead to holiday inventory troubles

The time it takes to ship products from China to the U.S. increased by 83% in September compared to before the pandemic, according to Freightos.

By Alejandra Carranza • Sept. 27, 2021

COVID-19 surge, port delays threaten retailers' holiday plans

As the pandemic continues, preparing for the upcoming season becomes more complex. Retailers are facing labor shortages and limited inventory capacity. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 27, 2021

Target announces plans to hire 100K seasonal workers

The retailer is planning to make fewer hires this holiday but it is offering existing staff an additional 5 million hours and a more flexible schedule.  

By Maria Monteros • Sept. 23, 2021

FedEx diverts packages as labor shortage bites into service levels

The need for labor will only become more pressing as the carrier braces for peak season.

By Max Garland • Sept. 23, 2021

Big Lots plans 'bypass network' to mitigate port congestion during peak season

A bypass network will help imports skip a touch, and arrive in time for holiday shopping.

By Edwin Lopez • Sept. 20, 2021

The Weekly Closeout: Drunk Elephant inks deal with Ulta and Indochino gets comfy

The beauty brand, once exclusively sold at Sephora, expands its physical presence, while the DTC brand known for suits moves into knitwear.

By Retail Dive Staff • Sept. 17, 2021