Winter Holidays

Despite reporting a 33% year-over-year decline in profits during the third quarter, Pier 1 Imports CEO Alex Smith said he is confident in the chain’s value proposition going forward in 2015.

The urge to impulse-shop during the holidays runs strong among Americans, but even stronger among a particular age group, according to a new survey.

About 83% of Millennials admit to having made an impulse purchase in the past, according to the Chase Blueprint Holiday Impulse Purchases Survey. And when they shop online or on pay day, this urge exceeds that of all other age groups.

With 2014 almost over, another holiday shopping season is drawing to a close. The looming question on everyone’s mind, of course, is whether holiday sales managed to live up to the (mostly) positive holiday forecasts from analysts and retail organizations.   

Las Vegas - Through Dec. 31, Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is broadcasting a series of special holiday greetings from prominent Las Vegas personalities, headliners and show cast members on its LED screens at the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard.

By James Han, Tyco Retail Solutions  

Wilmington, Del. - The urge to impulse shop during the holidays runs strong among Americans, but even stronger among Millennials. According to the Chase Blueprint Holiday Impulse Purchases Survey, 83% of Millennials admit to having made an impulse purchase in the past.   

Washington, D.C. – Apparently, a lot of fraud artists will get their names on the “naughty list” this year. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2014 Return Fraud Survey completed by loss prevention executives at 60 retail companies representing grocery, department, discount, specialty and small retailers, the industry will lose an estimated $10.9 billion to return fraud this year.   

New York - The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index reached its highest point since November 2013, rising to 4.5 from 4 the prior month. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.    The Index comprises four components – tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices. Highlights include:   Tax Burden: The tax rate has been effectively unchanged from the previous month at 11.8%.  

Los Angeles - When it comes to making online selections, Christmas shoppers are better late than never. A survey released by Bizrate Insights, a division of Connexity, found that many shoppers are still making online holiday purchases, even though there are only a few days left before Christmas. In fact, only 17% of shoppers have finished their Christmas shopping.  

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin - Kohl’s Department Stores has gotten in on the non-stop holiday shopping action by promoting itself as the place to be for “A Sale So Big We’re Open Non-Stop” beginning 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19 through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24.