Tis the season…for holiday returns

With the holiday season underway, learn how your returns can become a strategic asset rather than a dreaded post-holiday afterthought.

Oct. 9, 2018

Holiday sales growth could temper this year

Retailers have reason for optimism this season, but signs that sales growth could ease will keep them on their toes.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 8, 2018

Here's who is making moves in 2018 holiday hiring

As the season unfolds, we're making a list (and checking it twice) of who is hiring and how it stacks up against last year's strong holiday season. Here's a look at holiday staffing so far.

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated Oct. 19, 2018

NRF expects holiday sales spike of up to 4.8%

The trade association credits a strong economy and the healthy state of retail for the positive forecast.  

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 4, 2018

Wayfair plots 2 holiday pop-ups

The online furniture company is turning to brick and mortar as it struggles to conquer online furniture retail.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 4, 2018

Millennials set to spend the most at the holidays

The demographic is choosing retailers that demonstrate awareness of social and political issues important to them, according to an Accenture study.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 2, 2018

More than 60 major retailers to close on Thanksgiving

Many retailers are content to take in sales online and avoid the bad publicity of being open on the holiday, but others can't afford to cede the day to Amazon.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 2, 2018

Will AR bring joy to holiday marketing?

The immersive tech is likely to play a more prominent role this holiday season across advertising, mobile shopping and even in stores.

By Dianna Christe • Oct. 1, 2018

The holidays, in this economy?

Retailers are poised to rack up their best sales in years this season, thanks to healthy consumer fundamentals. But the economy is showing some cracks.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 28, 2018

More holiday shoppers heading to stores, and earlier

People of all ages head to stores for fun at the holidays, according to research from cloud-based retail and workforce platform Natural Insights.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 28, 2018

Retailers warn of price hikes as China tariffs take hold

Companies won't face the worst of the new policy until after the holidays, but prices are likely to rise and margins will be squeezed, and that could worsen as tariffs rise again next year.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 24, 2018

Halloween spending to hit $9B

The strong economy will help keep spending high, though it won't quite reach last year's record, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 21, 2018

Holiday sales could top $1.1T

Sales during the season could grow up tp 5.6%, and e-commerce is set to grow even more, as long as consumers stay confident, according to Deloitte.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 20, 2018

BJ's expands toy selection for the holidays

The club retailer is joining other mass merchants in taking advantage of the downfall of Toys R Us.

By Daphne Howland , Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 19, 2018

Holiday sales to grow 4% as e-commerce takes more share

An extra day between Thanksgiving and Christmas should help give retailers one of their best holiday seasons yet, according to Coresight Research.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 18, 2018

Google rolls out shoppable images ahead of the holidays

The features aim to help marketers expand their reach during the holiday season, when 61% of consumers say they're open to buying from new retailers.

By Erica Sweeney • Sept. 17, 2018

August retail sales miss as gas prices rise

Disappointing retail sales last month are unlikely to dent holiday forecasts, unless tariffs force new challenges onto American consumers.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 17, 2018

Facebook unwraps holiday-themed overlays, video templates and personalized storefronts

Two unnamed major retailers increased their returns on ad spend by 40% after testing the new overlays, the social giant said.

By Erica Sweeney • Sept. 12, 2018

Location data is the gift everyone needs for the holidays

Use the insights you can glean from location data to prepare your holiday marketing strategy now and give yourself a gift of your own: a possible bump in sales.

Sept. 10, 2018

Target readies toy expansion ahead of the holidays

The mass merchant is just the latest taking steps to fill the gap opened by the demise of Toys R Us.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 5, 2018

Brick-and-mortar stores raked in 84% of holiday sales in 2017

Most holiday customers still head to stores, but even those sales now require online prowess, according to a report from Gartner L2.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 4, 2018

Walmart has big plans to cash in on Toys R Us' demise

The retail giant is planning to expand its toy assortment by 30% in stores and 40% online this holiday season now that there is $1.3 billion in U.S. toy sales up for grabs.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 31, 2018

Seasonal hiring knows no season

The holiday rush may be months away, but some retailers are starting now when it comes to hiring seasonal workers. 

By Riia O'Donnell • Aug. 14, 2018

Over half of Prime Day shoppers planned ahead for the holiday

If Amazon's big July shopping holiday is an indicator, retailers aren't the only ones planning ahead for the critical holiday season, according to A.T. Kearney.

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Aug. 8, 2018

'Today' will be key word for deliveries this holiday season

Retailers are gearing up for a holiday season when same-day delivery of gifts will be expected, especially by last-minute shoppers, according to a survey by Dropoff.

By Dan Alaimo • June 28, 2018