Winter Holidays

New York -- The improving job picture may spell trouble for retailers’ holiday hiring plans, according to a report by CNBC.

As online sales growth continues to grow, experts say retailers are already having trouble filling positions in the heart of their digital operations: their fulfillment centers.

Read the full CNBC story, by clicking here.

From American Idol winner a decade ago to one of the biggest names in entertainment, Carrie Underwood will add extra star power to the 14th annual Belk Bowl football game slated for December 30.

As many of us grasp at the last moments of summer, those in the retail industry have one eye on the end of the year -- the time between November and December. It makes sense: holiday shoppers spent over $616 billion dollars just last year between Black Friday and Christmas. And while the ample time and resources spent on these two annual marketing priorities is certainly deserved, it is easy to put all of our eggs in this basket, accidentally neglecting the major retailing opportunity just around the corner -- the first quarter.

The new Star Wars film awoke a promotional force of epic proportions over the weekend, but now retailers are faced with daunting task of driving sales of merchandise tied to a movie that won’t hit theaters for more than three months.

More than 3,000 retail locations in the U.S. opened at midnight on Friday to unveil aisles of new merchandise tied to the upcoming “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” film, according to Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.

New York -- Disney unleashed its considerable marketing prowess on Friday and retailers were hoping the company’s “force” would translate into big sales.

On Friday, the entertainment giant formally debuted hundreds of toys and other products related to its upcoming — and hugely anticipated — film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”  

As the demand for differentiation grows among retailers and suppliers, Daymon Worldwide’s Omni Global Sourcing Solutions has opened a new showroom to allow customers access to in-demand seasonal and general merchandise imports.

Toronto – Real estate transactions helped Sears Canada swing to a profit in the second quarter even as revenue and same-store sales decreased.

The retailer on Wednesday reported net earnings of $13.5 million, compared to a net loss of $21.3 million the same quarter a year earlier. The company, which has been working to turn around its business, also announced additional cost-cutting plans and real-estate sales.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Shoppers keep getting smarter about using their mobile devices.

According to a new study from OneStop Marketing, 83% of mobile users now engage in shopping activities on their phone immediately before, during or after a trip to the store.

In addition, 45% of online traffic during the 2014 holiday season came from mobile but only 20% of sales came from mobile devices, indicating a substantial opportunity to increase mobile conversion rates.