Winter Holidays

Wayne, N.J. — Ahead of the holiday season, Toys"R"Us announced that it will expand its layaway program and incorporate flexible payment options in order to spur holiday sales. The retailer is offering its layaway service along with Bill Me Later to enable customers to complete purchase through a series of smaller payments over time.

Toys"R"Us introduced layaway in 2009 for such big-ticket items as bicycles and swing sets and on Oct. 15 will expand the program to include playthings in 450 of its 600 stores.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Consumers are busier than ever and are inclined to spend as little time shopping for groceries as possible, so attracting them enough to stop and sample a new product is a challenge. Albertsons is looking to address that issue by teaming with Daymon Interactions, a consumer event marketing company, to develop a new in-house product sampling and event marketing program.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s Corp. said Tuesday it will hire 40,000 seasonal workers for the 2011 holiday shopping period, about 5% more than in 2010.

The plan equates to about 35 additional associates per store at its 1,127 stores, each working about 20 hours per week.

In addition, Kohl's said it plans to hire 2,500 seasonal workers at DCs and 500 seasonal and full-time credit operations workers.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s Corp. said Tuesday it will hire 40,000 seasonal workers for the 2011 holiday shopping period, about 5% more than in 2010.

The plan equates to about 35 additional associates per store at its 1,127 stores, each working about 20 hours per week.

In addition, Kohl's said it plans to hire 2,500 seasonal workers at DCs and 500 seasonal and full-time credit operations workers.

Wayne, N.J. --Toys "R" Us Inc. will expand its layaway program and incorporate flexible payment options in order to spur holiday sales.

The chain’s layaway program, offered at its Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores nationwide, in conjunction with a limited-time Bill Me Later service, will enable customers to make a series of smaller payments over time.

Boston -- Survey results released Tuesday by Shop.org showed that almost half of all retailers plan to offer eGifting this holiday season and 44% are looking at location-based deals as a key element of their mobile marketing strategies. 

The survey, sponsored by CashStar and conducted in September at the annual Shop.org Retail Summit in Boston, found a growing concern among retailers about the lack of personalization of gift cards. 

LOS ANGELES — The state of the economy continues to impact consumers' holiday shopping decisions as many plan to spend less or the same this year.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that it is offering a 15-week membership for $15 to help consumers take advantage of the retailer's deals for the holiday season. The seasonal membership is available for purchase during regular club hours for a limited time between Oct. 4 and 10, and extends to new advantage and business members. Annual membership fees regularly start at $35 for business and $40 for advantage members.

The current economic climate has us all thinking more about retail expansion than perhaps over the last two to three years, but real estate disposition/portfolio optimization isn’t just on simmer. There’s still plenty of action in that arena, and Chain Store Age talked with Spence J. Mehl, SVP of New York City-based RCS Real Estate Advisors, about the latest happenings.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Sam's Club will offer  a limited 15-week membership for $15.  

The seasonal membership is available for purchase during regular club hours for a limited time between Oct. 4 and 10.