Winter Holidays

RESTON, Va. - Retail e-commerce spending from desktop computers for the first 44 days of the November-December 2014 holiday season totaled $42.5 billion, up 15% versus the corresponding days last year. According to comScore.  

Consumers are doing even more holiday shopping from their desktop computers this year, according to a new report from comScore.

The Internet analytics company reports that U.S. consumer spending from desktop computers for the first 44 days of the November-December 2014 holiday shopping season is up 15% from last year, to $42.5 billion.

Minneapolis – Technology geeks do not have the reputation of being the people you turn to in a crisis, but travelers in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport who experience difficulty with their electronic devices just may find a geek is what they need. Agents from the Best Buy Geek Squad technical service will be available daily now through Dec. 23 in O’Hare’s Terminal 3, Concourse H, with a “Precinct” similar to those found in Best Buy stores.  

An assortment of cashiers, 13 hidden cameras, and a whole lot of holiday spirit led to an epic surprise at a grocery store in Germany this month.

Edeka, Germany's largest supermarket chain, decided to surprise its shoppers with a seasonal treat.

In an attempt to liven up the otherwise boring chore of grocery shopping, these cashiers opted to delight their patient shoppers with a choreographed orchestra that beeped the holiday classic, "Jingle Bells."

Watch here and enjoy!

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is aiming last-minute holiday promotions at users of its Cartwheel mobile savings app and customers in need of product delivery or pickup. Cartwheel is offering users 50% off a different toy every day until Dec. 24.   

TGI Fridays has been getting a lot of attention for its holiday “Mobile Mistletoe” promotion, and not all of it has been for the right reasons. While Mobile Mistletoe is a great concept in omnichannel marketing and customer engagement, some flaws in the actual execution suggest TGI Fridays should have spent more time refining it before launch.  

Target Corp. is targeting last-minute holiday shoppers by offering promotions to customers in need of pickup or delivery, and to users of the retailer's Cartwheel app.

Cartwheel users will get 50% off a different toy every day until Dec. 24. Also, from now until Christmas, Cartwheel will feature more than 150 offers at 25% off or more.

Orders placed at Target.com through Dec. 20 can still be delivered by Christmas. After Saturday, Customers can use Target’s Store Pickup option.

New York – The top holiday purchase items this year range from the less personal to the very personal. According to a recent online survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Macy’s among nearly 1,700 U.S. adults 18 and older who are holiday shoppers, gift cards (61%) and clothing (52%) top the list when it comes to the types of gifts that holiday shoppers plan to buy this season.    Other popular holiday items include: