Marketing Tactics

RESTON, Va. — The holiday season-to-date has garnered $24.6 billion in online sales, a 15% increase above corresponding days last year, ComScore reported.

In addition to the 15% increase in spending recorded for the first 39 days of the holiday season, ComScore also noted that the most recent week (week ended Dec. 9) reached $5.9 billion in spending, an increase of 15% versus the corresponding week last year.

New York City -- Macy’s said Monday it has brought back its “24-hour” stores for three all-nighters beginning Dec. 21. Starting at 7 a.m., 14 Macy’s stores will stay open for 83 hours straight for non-stop shopping until Christmas Eve on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m.

Another 27 Macy’s stores will stay open until 2 a.m. on those same three nights.

New York -- Apple on Friday, opened its newest Big Apple store, a 23,000-sq-.ft. outpost in the landmarked Grand Central Terminal. The company said 2,500 people were waiting in line before the opening, and the store had nearly 4,000 visitors before noon.

The space had been previously occupied by a restaurant, which closed earlier this summer. It is Apple’s fifth location in Manhattan,

NEW YORK — Saks Fifth Avenue has taken its brand beyond fashion retail with the launch of its redesigned SaksPOV website. Designed to offer a point of view from Fifth Avenue, the company said, the new site will feature multimedia content, designer features, Saks brand coverage and compelling lifestyle pieces. SaksPOV launched initially in December 2010.

Dallas -- Online menswear retailer Big Tall Direct said Friday it has partnered with TrustPilot to measure customer satisfaction.  

"By integrating TrustPilot with our existing systems, our potential consumers benefit from the shopping experience of our established consumers", said Rob Schlein, president, Big Tall Direct.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that it will help make customers' "green" go further this Green Monday (Dec. 12) at Sears.com and Kmart.com.

Shoppers can take advantage of up to 70% off across popular categories available on Sears.com and Kmart.com on more than 500 deals that are as good as Cyber Monday prices, the company reported.

Atlanta -- The SpendTrend analysis released Friday by First Data Corp., which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations, found that overall year-over-year dollar volume growth was up 7.3% in November 2011, down from October’s 9.4% growth.

November 2011 had tough comparables as November 2010 was a particularly strong month, with dollar volume growth up 8.1%, according to First Data. November 2011 transaction growth was 6.1%. 

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets recently expanded its loyalty card program with a gold preferred customer offering that customizes offers for regular shoppers who spend at least $3,500 in a calendar year.

"Once a calendar year Weis will send out gold cards to qualifying customers based on their shopping habits the previous year," the grocer stated on a website explaining the deal. "The gold card will have an expiration date printed on it, and if you qualify again the next year you’ll automatically be sent a new card."