Seasonal

Nordstrom is putting a modern spin on a 50-year-old tradition.   The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale — an event that launched in the 1960s — is stepping up its digital game this year. To drive customer engagement throughout the two-week event which kicks off on July 21, the department store giant teamed up with Snapchat to create a custom lens that features accessories that will be highlighted during the Anniversary Sale.   

For all the buzz about interactive digital marketing options, the track record of email keep it at the top of marketers’ holiday wish lists.    This was according to the “2017 Christmas in July Survey,” a study from j2 Global. The study tapped 564 members of its customer base and 100 retailers.  

Digitally-savvy customers will be contributing to a high volume of holiday traffic — and they have high expectations for retailers.    Seventy-six percent of U.S. consumers expect their interactions with a brand to be easy, according to “The Holiday in July 2017 Holiday Retail Outlook” report from Alliance Data  This will be a mantra this holiday season, regardless of the channel shoppers use to connect with their favorite retailers.  

J.C. Penney isn't playing around when it comes to toys.  

The Chain Store Age offices will be closed July 4 in honor of Independence Day. Daybreaker will resume publishing July 5. Have a fun and safe holiday!

Amazon has brought the saying, “Christmas in July” to life with its Prime Day global shopping extravaganza and this year's event promises to be bigger than ever.   

Amazon is giving new meaning to the phrase "Christmas in July."  

Rue La La is bolstering its beauty sales by jumping into the beauty box category.   The online apparel retailer is partnering with Conde Nast's Allure magazine to get the hottest beauty merchandise into shoppers’ hands. The team collaborated to create a series of one-of-a-kind boxes filled with products hand-selected by Allure's beauty experts and Rue La La's beauty buyers.   

For the first time ever, UPS is going to add a surcharge for orders delivered to homes during peak holiday times.    The surcharges, which apply only to residential deliveries, could boost the buy-online-pickup-in-stores (BOPIS) strategy deployed by many store-based retailers.  The move comes as the shipping giant look to combat its escalating costs, which include increased investments in hiring, in the wake of the shipping boom caused by rising online package volumes.    

Americans are expected to spend more than ever on gifts for Father’s Day this year — proof that consumer confidence is growing.   This was according to a study from the National Retail Federation. The report, conducted by Prosper Insight & Analytics, is based on responses from 7,335 consumers surveyed between May 2 and May 9.