Displays & Signs

New York City -- U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $497 on gifts this holiday season, The Conference Board reported. Only 7% of consumers said they plan to spend more on holiday gifts this year, while approximately 49% plan on spending less than last year.

The survey of holiday gift spending intentions, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen. It was conducted in October. 

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us announced that it has partnered with Nickelodeon Consumer Products for an exclusive line of consumer electronics inspired by the hit Nickelodeon show, "Victorious."

When it comes to Black Friday, you’re either in or you’re out. If you’re like me, the whirlwind of retail chaos that swirls around shopping centers the Friday after Thanksgiving can feel a bit overwhelming. The sales and deep discounts are tempting, but wading through crowds and fighting for parking spaces is not my idea of a “happy” holiday. But I have plenty of friends and family – and I’m sure you do too – who look forward to Black Friday with the anticipatory excitement of kids on Christmas Eve.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that it is inviting customers to "try before they buy" and plan their holiday menus at the ninth annual Holiday Taste of Sam's Club event. Showcasing dozens of food and beverage items at multiple sampling booths in each of its 610 Sam's Club locations, the event takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day from Friday Nov. 18 through Sunday Nov. 20.

Buffalo, N.Y. -- New Era announced it will open its 10th flagship, in the heart of downtown Chicago. The two-level, 4,500-sq.-ft. store, New Era's largest location to date, will sell licensed and New Era branded headwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids. The brand is best known for being the official on-field cap for Major League Baseball.

The nearly 1,000 stores Gap Inc. operates under various nameplates that will be open on Thanksgiving are the latest indication of the extreme measures required of retailers to grow holiday sales during challenging and intensively competitive times.

Target is out with a beast of a holiday toy catalog that weigha in at 52 glossy pages that employs a variety of incentives to promote sales in advance of Thanksgiving weekend. Nothing unusual about that or the fact that the publication features all sorts of cool products and high quality photography that is sure to have kids drooling if parents make the mistake of leaving the thing lying around.

By Bryon Morrison, president/Wireless Practice, The Marketing Arm

Can you hear that noise? It is the melodious sound of sleigh bells, phones, and cash registers ringing. The holiday shopping season is almost here and strategies incorporating mobile marketing can expand your database, reaffirm customer loyalty, and usher in new multichannel techniques to make the most of this holiday season — but only if you get your plan into action right now.

Holiday marketing strategy and the current environment