Winter Holidays

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has become the latest retailer to join the trend of starting "Black Friday" on Thanksgiving night. The company announced that, for the first time, it will open its doors at 9 p.m. on Nov. 24. On Nov. 24, customers will also find the company's Thanksgiving-weekend circular, whichis filled with more than $12,500 in savings, including doorbusters, Thursday through Saturday discounts and free gift-with-purchase offers, Toys"R'Us said.

San Antonio, Texas -- A Friday report in the San Antonio Express News said that grocer H-E-B has opened its Toyland mall-based stores for the second year in a row.

The seasonal toy and entertainment concept – which sells no groceries – is called H-E-B Toyland and is currently open at Rolling Oaks Mall (San Antonio), the San Marcos (Texas) Premium Outlets, and in Corpus Christi, Texas, until Jan. 15.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that its Sears Outlet stores will honor competitor's Black Friday ads through Nov. 30. Customers may bring in a Black Friday ad they find online, and if Sears Outlet has the same item model, brand and color in the store, they will match the price at the time of purchase, even if it is before Black Friday. Full price match details are available at www.searsoutlet.com/holidaypricematch.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s Inc. reported Friday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 soared a record 85% to $26.6 million, compared with $14.4 million in the year-ago period. Strong comps and contained expenses propelled the strong performance.

Revenue rose to $1.38 billion, from $1.34 billion, beating Wall Street’s expected $1.36 billion in sales. Same-store sales increased 5%.

BENTON HARBOR — Whirlpool Corp. is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a number of local events and recognition of employees throughout the world.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- A Friday report in Advertising Age said that Kohl’s Corp. has added $30 million to its fourth quarter marketing spend in order to pad its efforts to garner holiday shopping dollars.

In 2010, the retailer spent $113 million on measured media in the fourth quarter, according to the report, and will spend about $143 million this year. Annually, Kohl’s spends $340 million.

NEW YORK — Further proof that the sluggish economy is affecting higher-income households much less than lower-income households can be found in the quarterly profits of Dillard's and Nordstrom's, which both reported earnings this week.

Dillard’s Inc. reported Friday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 soared a record 85% to $26.6 million, compared with $14.4 million in the year-ago period. Strong comps and contained expenses propelled the strong performance.

Washington, D.C. -- Survey results released Thursday by the National Retail Federation found that fewer retailers expect return fraud rates to grow this holiday season, due in part to stronger checks and balances and to enhanced return policies.