Winter Holidays

Office Depot, Inc. is continuing its holiday initiatives.  The merchant, formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, has announced its “Your Holiday Workshop” campaign being kicked off across all store locations and online on Nov. 2. 

To address the volume of early shoppers, Office Depot and OfficeMax will unveil exclusive daily and weekly product deals from its most popular shopping categories including technology, printers, and furniture alongside other business and home office supplies.

By Mike Kercheval, President and CEO, International Council of Shopping Centers  

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. launches its “Your Holiday Workshop” campaign across all store locations and online on Nov. 2. “Your Holiday Workshop” efforts will include early Black Friday and “Every Monday is Cyber Monday” deals, and shopper services.   

GameStop has joined forces with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for another season of giving.  For the second year, GameStop will participate in the annual St.

Wayne, N.J. –- Toys 'R' Us Inc. is releasing The Great Big Christmas Book, the company’s annual holiday gift guide. More than 8 million Toys 'R' Us customers will receive a special edition of The Great Big Christmas Book, with deals valid Sunday, Nov. 2 through Saturday, Nov. 22, plus several “Ultimate Wish Saturday” events to be held throughout the month.  

Seattle –- Amazon.com is reportedly using feedback collected from its “Amazon Moms” Facebook group and other corporate Facebook pages to help create promotional lists of holiday toys.  

With technology products at the top of many wish lists this Christmas, The NPD Group’s top analyst covering the product category weighed in with a dozen expectations for the holiday season.

“The tech industry faces even more intense pricing and promotion than last year’s holiday shopping season,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. “The challenge of surpassing the impressive start to last year’s holiday season will be addressed head-on by the market’s emphasis on competitive offerings.”

New York -- Shoppers plan to spend more during the upcoming holiday season with omnichannel shoppers having even higher spending expectations. According to Deloitte’s 29th annual holiday survey, total holiday spending is predicted to increase by 13% to $1,299 per household, including gifts, socializing away from home, entertaining at home, non-gift clothing for family or self, home/holiday furnishings, and any other holiday-related spending not in the other categories.