Winter Holidays

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us announced that it is extending its free layaway program through Dec. 16, due to significant positive response by consumers. The free offer was originally slated to end on Oct. 31. The chain was the first retailer to offer free layaway, starting in September. Since then, other companies have also stepped up with enhanced layaway programs, including Walmart and Kmart.

San Francisco -- Pbteen, a division of Williams-Sonoma, plans to open five pop-up stores in the Durham, Cincinnati, Edina, Houston and Miami areas this October and November.

The stores will showcase PBteen’s new holiday gift assortment, including gadgets for guys and girls, fur-inspired bedding and lounge seating, jewelry and beauty storage and accessories.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is enticing shoppers this holiday season with new initiatives including price match, exclusive gift offerings and shoppable advertisements.

“Target’s holiday plans are built around an outstanding shopping experience, exclusive merchandise and competitive prices,” said Gregg Steinhafel, Target Chairman, president and CEO. “Our guests will be able to shop with confidence this holiday season knowing that we are intensely focused on providing them the right merchandise at the right price.”

NEW YORK — Target and Neiman Marcus have revealed their holiday collection, which features 24 of America's top designers. The collection will be available Dec. 1 at all Target and Neiman Marcus stores, as well as online at Target.com and NeimanMarcus.com.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. and The Neiman Marcus Group will promote their upcoming joint holiday collection by serving as the sole sponsors of the mid-season finale of the hit ABC television show “Revenge.”

In place of standard broadcast commercials, the retailers are working directly with the creative team of “Revenge” to create original content incorporating the Target and Neiman Marcus holiday collection. The show will air on Nov. 11.

Minneapolis -- Target announced that, for the first time ever, it will offer shoppers the ability to match select online competitors’ prices in its stores between Nov. 1 and Dec. 16. Qualifying online retailers include Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com.

Washington, D.C. -- Most consumers will take a conservative approach with their holiday gift-giving budgets, according to NRF’s holiday consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight. The average holiday shopper will spend $749.51 on gifts, décor, greeting cards and more, up slightly from the $740.57 they spent last year. NRF forecasts that holiday sales will increase 4.1% to $586.1 billion.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. and The Neiman Marcus Group will promote their upcoming joint holiday collection by serving as the sole sponsors of the mid-season finale of the hit ABC television show “Revenge.”

In place of standard broadcast commercials, the retailers are working directly with the creative team of “Revenge” to create original content incorporating the Target and Neiman Marcus holiday collection. The show will air on Nov. 11.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has launched its annual nationwide fundraising campaign to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The company has once agained teamed up with Shaquille O'Neal to encourage customers to "Give Back with Shaq."

NEW YORK — The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index to 3.53 in September from a reading of 3.27 the previous month, primarily due to a nearly 11% increase in home prices, which offset weakness in other areas of the index.