Marketing Tactics

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — It seems that consumers' holiday spending intentions are more positive than last year, according to NPD's 11th annual holiday retail study.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples is making it easier for small businesses and consumers to get ready for the holiday season with its online holiday center.

According to the company, this year's Staples Holiday Center includes an expanded product assortment with more gift ideas than ever as well as recipes and homemade crafts.

Port Washington, N.Y. -- The majority of consumers intend to spend the same (67%) this holiday season than last year, and 10% plan to spend more while fewer that say they plan to spend less, according to the NPD Group’s 11th Annual Holiday Survey.

Neil Ashe, president and CEO of global e-commerce was clearly the most excitable person on stage Wednesday at Walmart’s 19th annual analysts' meeting. And for good reason.

Walmart created its global e-commerce group two years ago and Ashe joined the company back in January. Wednesday was his first opportunity to participate in the company’s annual analysts’ meeting and he made the most of it, slipping in a first ever reference to Walmart’s online revenues that now total $9 billion.

Just 10 months into her job as president and CEO of Sam’s Club Rosalind Brewer is making major changes to member benefits and implementing a $5 fee increase.

During a presentation at Walmart’s annual analysts’ conference on Wednesday Brewer recapped Sam’s performance, outlined a growth strategy involving a 2013 net increase of between 10 and 15 new clubs and described a wide range of enhancements to Sam’s two membership tiers.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced its Retail Services business has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the private label credit card program for multichannel home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel.

This year, in partnership with Alliance Data, Crate and Barrel introduced a rewards-based credit card that allows customers to earn rewards across all three brands: Crate and Barrel, CB2 and The Land of Nod.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle is looking to ease the fears of consumers concerned about risig food costs by promising not to raise prices on hundreds of items through the holidays.

ATLANTA — Hair accessories brand Goody is gearing up for the holidays with its Luxe line of hair accessories, which will feature new styles and designs for the holidays.

The Luxe collection is comprised of four styles: Vine, Deco, Antique and Starburst.  They range from classic to modern and capture the crisp, sleek lines of art deco, the charm and romance of vintage jewels, the whimsy and light of the constellations and the flourishing expressions of vines and blooms.