Winter Holidays

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 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.

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."

Los Angeles -- Research results released Monday by PriceGrabber – augmenting its previously released winter holiday shopping survey – revealed that more than half (54%) of consumers plan to spend $500 or more on gifts this season, slightly higher than 2011.

In a demonstration of online channel strength, 75% of respondents selected online retailers when asked to select the types of stores they plan to shop for holiday gifts. Discount stores followed with 74%, and traditional department stores came in third place with 49%.

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.

New York -- Deloitte’s Consumer Spending Index rose in September, aided by a near 11% gain in home prices. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- Higher consumer confidence levels, increased impulse buying and consumer intent to spend more could all lead to an upside surprise in 2012 holiday spending, according to Nielsen analyses.

Although almost six out of every 10 consumers (59%) reported plans to spend the same as last year, there is a 10-point drop (from 37% in 2011 to 27% in 2012) in the number of people expecting to spend less. Eight percent of respondents reported plans to spend more this holiday season, up from 5% in 2011 and 2010.