Winter Holidays

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, especially during the season to be jolly, but I’m a realist. And though I wish happy holidays for all, I must tell mall retailers to steel themselves for another disappointing holiday season. Deloitte is expecting seasonal sales growth of 3.5% to 4% this year, ahead of inflation but below the 5.2% growth of last year — but don’t expect malls and department stores to see that growth. A disproportionate share of holiday sales will go to the humble discount stores, far away from the fancier shopping centers.

In the final push to capture last minute sales, Macy’s has resorted to giving away $4.5 million in cash to customers at its stores across the country.

The promotion, which was not offered last year, was announced in a press released distributed at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19. The company said it would distribute $10 gift cards to the first 250 customers at 600 of its stores from Sunday, Dec. 20 through Tuesday, Dec. 22. The cards are only redeemable in store and must be used during the three day promotional window.

Regional supermarket co-op Hy-Vee Inc. is giving customers seamless access to their purchases just in time for the holidays.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in partnership with the producers of the film Point Break have devised a novel approach to thanking those protecting American freedom.

Going into the final stretch of the holiday season, a majority of Americans are far from finished with their holiday shopping. 

Going into the final stretch of the holiday season, a majority of Americans are far from finished with their holiday shopping.

Seventy-three percent (73%) plan to shop last minute (vs. 79% in 2014), as most wait to find the best deals (44% vs. 46% in 2014), according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker.

Other reasons consumers are shopping last minute include trying to save up until they have enough money (22%, on par with 2014) and difficulty finding the time to shop (20% vs. 16% in 2014).

Return fraud during the holidays is a growing problem for retailers—and also an extremely expensive one.

Shoppers are expected to turn out in droves this coming Saturday (“Super Saturday”) and also on Sunday, the last weekend before Christmas.

Return fraud during the holidays is a growing problem for retailers—and also an extremely expensive one.

Delivery performance in the first half of December may land many providers on the naughty list.

According to analysis of what more than 130,000 shoppers said in surveys about on-time deliveries of their full orders between Dec. 1 - Dec. 15 by Bizrate Insights, a division of Connexity, time is not on their side.

Bizrate Insights data indicated on-time delivery rate went from 93.3% on Tuesday, Dec. 1 to 89.9% on Tuesday, Dec. 15. There were small day-over-day spikes in on-time delivery rate on Saturday, Dec. 5, Tuesday, Dec 8 and Friday Dec. 11.