Winter Holidays

With the financial picture improving modestly at Toys “R” Us, CEO David Brandon said the company is ready to build on third quarter successes during the final days of the holiday season.

Drone sales are expected to set a new sale record this holiday season and create all sorts of new privacy, security and safety challenges in the process. No wonder regulations regarding the recreational use of drones are drawing support from the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).

RILA in response to an interim final rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Dec. 15, pledged its support of what appears to be a common sense requirement that drones weighing up to 55 pounds must be registered.

Mallgoers who need to see what’s happening at the North Pole before they believe in Santa Claus will have their doubts erased, thanks to J.C. Penney. According to Advertising Age, Penney is using Oculus virtual reality headsets in an immersive holiday promotional experience called “Twas the Flight before Christmas” at four select malls. Customers will be able to interact with a virtual “Santa’s Workshop” environment.

Food Lion is launching an omnichannel coupon initiative that combines fun with savings.

Now through Jan. 1, customers can access digital coupons through the Shazam smartphone app while shopping in Food Lion stores. Food Lion has partnered with interactive marketing firm Mood Media Corp. on the campaign.

Kohl's is pulling out all the stops in the hopes of increasing holiday sales this season by staying open through Christmas Eve.

Kohl's plans to keep its doors open for more than 170 hours straight from 7 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 as an added convenience to holiday shoppers. In addition to extended store hours for last-minute shopping, customers will find special savings opportunities on Super Saturday, Dec. 19, and time-saving conveniences such as buy online, pick up in store for last minute gifts.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties along with its corporate partner, Coca-Cola, are encouraging shoppers at CBL Malls across the country to get social this holiday season with an in-mall holiday promotion.

In the first part of December, delivery providers experienced difficulties that probably left some holiday shoppers less than merry.

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. 10 by Bizrate Insights, a division of Connexity, the timeliness trend is clearly downward.

With the financial picture improving modestly at Toys “R” Us, CEO Dave Brandon said the company is ready to build on third quarter successes during the final days of the holiday season.

The strong dollar’s influence on tourism and store traffic led the Neiman Marcus Group to report a decline in same-store sales for the first time in six years.

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group and Hilco Merchant Resources announced that the companies will be managing the stores closing process, which has begun, for Los Angeles-based, Kitson, at all 17 locations throughout California, Oregon, and Nevada. Sales are offering discounts of up to 50% on all of the fashion apparel, gifts and novelty merchandise. Store fixtures, furniture and equipment will also be available for sale.