Voice, mobile and e-commerce to drive healthy holiday shopping season

While nearly 75% of consumers plan to do the majority of their shopping in physical stores, digital channels will play a critical role in product research.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 28, 2017

Study: Cyber Monday now more popular than Black Friday

Analytics firm Euclid found that holiday shoppers are most excited about the online holiday this year as the popularity of e-commerce continues to grow.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 27, 2017

Millennials will hit the stores this holiday season

It’s baby boomers who are more likely to buy online, according to a study from consumer engagement firm First Insight.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 26, 2017

Walmart revives JetCash for the holidays

The big-box retailer is bringing back the program, which appeared to be shuttered in May, by offering customers 5% cash back on orders placed in September and October.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 26, 2017

UPDATE: Bankrupt Toys R Us secures financing, begins holiday hiring

The timing of the company's recent Chapter 11 filing is the worst possible scenario for any retailer, much less one so dependent on holiday sales.

By Daphne Howland, Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 26, 2017

BJ's aims to turn holiday party stress into sales

A study commissioned by the warehouse club retailer notes all the many woes of the holiday party host that the company hopes could be reasons to shop at its stores.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 25, 2017

Halloween spending to reach record $9.1B

The increase reflects growth of 8.3% over last year’s record of $8.4 billion, according to research from the NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 22, 2017

Holiday shoppers to spend 47% more on Black Friday, Cyber Monday

A study by RetailMeNot shows that the holiday shopping days are going to be bigger than ever — and the promotional period should last twice as long.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 22, 2017

Target’s app to guide customers through stores and to deals

Using beacons and bluetooth, the big box retailer's app will start acting as an in-store GPS and also show its Cartwheel deals as customers get near them in stores.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 21, 2017

Walmart isn't hiring holiday help

In stark contrast to other retailers, Walmart is opting to stick with its holiday strategy from last year, which gives existing workers opportunities for more hours.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 21, 2017

SEO is crucial for holiday marketing

Updated holiday terminology and frequent product content pushes can go a long way in seasonal marketing, according to new research.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 20, 2017

Holiday retail sales to rise 3.8%

A nearly 15% rise in digital sales will be a big contributor to a strong holiday quarter, according to store retail analytics firm RetailNext.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 20, 2017

Could this be the last generation of Toys R Us kids?

The toy retailer's huge debt load finally caught up with it as the retail world rapidly changed. Now, in and beyond bankruptcy, the company must chart a way forward.

By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 20, 2017

Macy's hiring fewer holiday workers this year

The ongoing correction to the department store's massive store footprint is hitting hiring plans, the same way it's hit sales.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 20, 2017

Kohl's to accept free Amazon returns

It's a daring move that may signal a new partnership ethos among e-commerce and legacy retailers.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 19, 2017

Toys R Us files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

After news broke that a bankruptcy filing was possible, many of the toy retailer's suppliers demanded cash on delivery — precipitating a financial crisis that quickly drove it to court as the holidays ramp up.  

By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 19, 2017

Brighten your holiday strategies with mobile

The holiday season brings an abundance of advertising noise to consumers and anguish for retailers. Incorporating a mobile strategy can give you a competitive edge.

By Shane M. Swisher, Listrak • Sept. 19, 2017

3 holiday marketing hacks

What a study of back-to-school subject lines can teach retailers about their marketing strategy for the holiday season.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 15, 2017

Retailers double down on holiday help

Emerging price wars may hit margins this season, but they'll also bring more shoppers into stores and online, according to a recent holiday hiring forecast.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 15, 2017

Irma could hit holiday inventories

Planalytics says some $2.75 billion in sales could be lost to Irma, in addition to costs incurred by damage.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 14, 2017

Target increases holiday hiring by 40%

The retailer will hire 100,000 seasonal employees — a big step up from the 70,000 holiday workers hired in stores last year.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 13, 2017

Target launches 'innovation sprint,' adds HGTV stars to store brand stable

A 14-week partnership has five Target employees working out of Digital Ventures’ centers in New York and Los Angeles and conducting immersive customer behavior research in six U.S. cities.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 13, 2017

Postmates cuts delivery fees pre-holiday season

The delivery provider is edging up its challenge to Amazon Prime with new upgrades, as it tries to lure in more Unlimited subscribers.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 12, 2017

Amazon offers sellers lucrative holidays — if they prepare

Fulfillment by Amazon shipments rose 50% during the holidays last year, but Marketplace vendors looking for a lift need to plan ahead.  

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 12, 2017

Pitney Bowes boosts delivery offerings with Newgistics acquisition

After at least three logistics-related acquisitions in as many years, the technology company's shipping sector ambitions have become increasingly clear.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 11, 2017