Events

Insights: Cyber "Five" Data Thus Far Indicates Strong Start for Holiday
By Scot Wingo, CEO, ChannelAdvisor Happy Cyber Monday! Each year we at ChannelAdvisor track the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday and call that the “Cyber Five.” This year, our Cyber Five Same Store Sales (SSS) data to date shows that Holiday ’14 is off to a very strong start.
Retailers launch campaign to eliminate Alibaba ‘threat’
Washington, D.C. - The Alliance for Main Street Fairness (AMSF) launched a television advertising campaign to educate lawmakers on what is says is the imminent threat posed by China's online mega-retailer Alibaba as it enters the U.S. retail market. Retailers are asking the U.S. House of Representatives to join the U.S. Senate by passing e-fairness legislation that closes the online sales tax loophole this year.

Macy’s Herald Square holiday windows take customers on a star-crossed journey

New York - Macy's Herald Square has unveiled its 2014 Christmas windows. Titled "Santa's Journey to the Stars," this year's display follows the adventures of Alex, a young boy who receives a magical and mystical telescope that enables him to experience the wonder of Christmas on other planets before landing back on Earth at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Despite big bargains, total holiday weekend sales slide 11% according to NRF estimates

New York - Despite some of the most promotional activity and extended operating hours the retail industry has ever seen, total spending for the four-day Black Friday weekend came in below projections, down a surprising 11.3% from last year. According to the National Retail Federation's preliminary figures, weekend spending dropped to $50.9 billion from $57.4 billion last year.
Sales, traffic decline Thanksgiving weekend

Fewer Americans shopped and they spent less money during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to new estimates from the National Retail Federation.
Santa reaches for the stars at Macy's

All systems are go and the holiday season is clear for takeoff at Macy's Herald Square in New York City.

That’s because this year’s Macy’s Christmas window display, “Santa’s Journey to the Stars,” traces the adventures of Alex, a young boy who receives a magical and mystical telescope that allows him to experience the wonder of Christmas on other planets before landing back on Earth at the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Verizon Wireless: More consumers will shop Cyber Monday than Black Friday

New York — More consumers (40%) say they plan to shop on Cyber Monday than Black Friday (36%). According to a new survey of 1,000 consumers from Verizon Wireless and KRC Research, people in the West (39%) are most likely to go shopping on Cyber Monday compared to other regions (33% Northeast, 36% South, 36% Midwest).
Saks creates holiday wonderland on Fifth Avenue

New York — Saks Fifth Avenue flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue has unveiled its holiday windows along with a dramatic light display that encompasses the entire façade of the iconic buiding.
New payment method not for the modest

Apple Pay’s got nothing on this new body part-based method of conducting commerce.

The world of payments has become very dynamic in recent years which explains why a trade show called Money 20/20 in only its third year of existence is able to attract more than 7,500 attendees. Everyone from scruffy start-up types touting the virtues of bitcoin, to government regulators, well known retailers and major credit card issuers were on hand at the recent show in Las Vegas to gain insight into the rapidly evolving space.
Dick’s looks to score with hoops tourney

Basketball season is just now getting underway but next spring when top high school teams square off at a tournament in New York Dick’s Sporting Goods will be there as title sponsor of the event.

For the second consecutive year, Dicks will serve as title sponsor of the event to be held April 2-4, 2015 and televised on ESPN networks.
Macy’s launching online video ads on Facebook

New York - Macy's continues its aggressive social media push with the launch of online video ads on Facebook starting on Thanksgiving evening. The ads are part of the retailer’s Black Friday weekend campaign. The ads will feature cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, who will also appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. They will target women age 21 and over.
Food Is in at Outlets

In the old days, outlet centers either didn’t offer food options or the pickings were pretty lean. In today’s iteration, however, food often takes center stage.

Villa Enterprises, a 50-year-old multi-brand restaurant operator of banners such as Villa Italian Kitchen, Mo’ Burger, South Philly Steak & Fries and Tinta Mexicana, has set the curve with its “Food Hall by Villa” in Simon’s Arizona Mills Shopping Center in Tempe. In a completely transformed, 13,262-sq.-ft. dining space with 14,280 sq. ft.