Winter Holidays

The nearly 1,000 stores Gap Inc. operates under various nameplates that will be open on Thanksgiving are the latest indication of the extreme measures required of retailers to grow holiday sales during challenging and intensively competitive times.

WASHINGTON — A report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports has started to decline for the fall, and November is forecast at 1.9% below the same month last year.

The decrease is attributed to the fact that most retailers already have their holiday season merchandise either on their shelves or en route to their stores. 

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General announced that throughout November, shoppers can record a message of gratitude or send a care package through www.dollargeneral.com/military.

Toronto -- Sears Canada announced the debut of a Wish Book application for iPad, allowing thousands of items to be viewed, added to Wish Lists or purchased with the tap of the finger on the iPad.

The application also includes a built-in gift list organizer to manage holiday gift giving and shopping. 

Sears Wish Book iPad application is available for download via the Apple iTunes App Store.
 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Members of the military can enjoy savings at Sam's Club with the introduction of a new membership offering.

The retailer said that when military personnel — including those active or retired, their spouses and civilian military employees — join or renew as an advantage member or advantage plus member, the company will provide them with a $15 Sam's Club gift card to each primary membership.

Proof of military identification is required and the offer cannot be combined with any other membership offers, Sam's Club noted.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General announced that is honoring men and women who have served our country in the military with a special Veterans Day discount. On Friday, Nov. 11, all veterans, active duty military, National Guard and Reserve and their immediate families will receive a 10% discount at Dollar General stores. Shoppers at www.dollargeneral.com will also be eligible to receive 10% off their purchase Nov. 11 through Nov. 13 using the code VETERANSDAY at checkout.

Target reported a 3.3% same-store sales increase for October and a similar figure could be in order for November as the company again provided guidance calling for a low-to-mid single-digit increase.

Target is out with a beast of a holiday toy catalog that weigha in at 52 glossy pages that employs a variety of incentives to promote sales in advance of Thanksgiving weekend. Nothing unusual about that or the fact that the publication features all sorts of cool products and high quality photography that is sure to have kids drooling if parents make the mistake of leaving the thing lying around.

By Bryon Morrison, president/Wireless Practice, The Marketing Arm

Can you hear that noise? It is the melodious sound of sleigh bells, phones, and cash registers ringing. The holiday shopping season is almost here and strategies incorporating mobile marketing can expand your database, reaffirm customer loyalty, and usher in new multichannel techniques to make the most of this holiday season — but only if you get your plan into action right now.

Holiday marketing strategy and the current environment

DALLAS — The Army & Air Force Exchange Service announced that it is offering several Black Friday deals for military members and their families.

Among the deals being offered are Sony 55" LCD TVs for just $899, HP Pavilion G6 Notebooks for $279, 50% off regularly priced ladies apparel from Izod, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and others as well as an Xbox 360 4GB gaming systems with built-in Wi-Fi console for just $99. Additionally, all Coach handbags (both in-store and online at shopmyexchange.com) will be 25%off from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.