Winter Holidays

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us said Tuesday that it will waive upfront service fees for its holiday layaway program, kicking off immediately and running through Oct. 31.

The retailer will also remove its minimum purchase requirement, and customers have until Dec. 16 to pick up orders.

Year-round layaway programs will continue, but will have the customary $5 service fee attached.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has donated $150,000 in cash and products to assist with Hurricane Isaac relief efforts. A $120,000 cash donation was given to the American Red Cross in support of response efforts. An additional $20,000 in product donations and $10,000 in Target gift cards will be given to other nonprofit organizations in affected areas for essentials such as water and food.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday it has lowered its holiday layaway fee from $15 to $5, saying that the move is in response to customer feedback.

Customers may begin to open layaway accounts under the new fee arrangement on Sept. 15, and it runs through Dec. 14.

According to Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S., “this is a direct response to feedback we received since announcing this year's Holiday Layaway program. [It] makes Walmart more competitive in the marketplace.”

Toys "R"Usenhanced its layaway program by dropping some fees and Walmart quickly responded.

Toys "R" Us dropped the $5 service fee and minimum purchase requirement from its layaway program in a bid to capture sales of those who begin their holiday shopping early.The company said it changed the rules for its layaway program, instituted in 2009, to waive the $5 upfront service fee and eliminate the minimum purchase requirement for all orders created in stores through October 31.

CINCINNATI— Kroger is extending its summer fuel savings program through the fall and holiday seasons. Customers can now earn and redeem fuel points to save up to $2.00 off per gallon at Kroger Family of Stores Fuel Centers through Dec. 31.

"At our customers' request we are pleased to extend our special offer doubling potential fuel savings up to $2.00 per gallon through the busy fall and holiday shopping seasons," said Michael Donnelly, Kroger's SVP of merchandising.

NEW YORK — Barneys New York and The Walt Disney Company are teaming up on Barneys’ 2012 holiday campaign at Barneys stores in a campaign called Electric Holiday.

The multi-platform initiative will combine fashion and fantasy, merging the creativity and magic of Disney with the wit and surprise of the legendary Barneys New York annual holiday campaign.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Genesco Inc.'s profit topped estimates for the eighth quarter in a row amid increased store traffic. The company raised its full-year earnings outlook for the second time this year.

Genesco, which operates stores under such banners as Journeys, Lids, Johnston & Murphy and Schuh banners, said its adjusted quarterly profit rose to $12.1 million from $5.2 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 15% to $543.5 million.Same-store sales were up 4%.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is bringing Americans some much-wanted relief at the pump this fall and winter with the return of its "Great Gas Rollback" program.