Seasonal

By Mark Putnam

Perhaps no time of year epitomizes the evolving trend of the integrated consumer buying experience more than the holiday season. Buyers are quickly realizing that rather than spending hundreds on gifts destined to be quietly returned come January 2013, the most efficient use of their money centers on gift cards and other prepaid methods that offer the recipients flexibility and choice. 

Washington -- Free shipping offers will abound this holiday season, according to Shop.org’s eHoliday survey conducted by BIGinsight. Nine in 10 (89.7%) retailers plan to offer some form of free shipping for online shoppers. When asked which promotions they will emphasize most heavily during the holiday season, 37.5% plan to offer free standard shipping with conditions (e.g. minimum purchase), and three in 10 (30.0%) will offer free standard shipping without conditions.

New York -- Shoppers are in a good mood heading into the holiday season, with the number of consumers planning to spend less on the holidays (37%) at the lowest level since 2006, according to Deloitte's 27th annual survey of holiday spending intentions and trends. One-half (50%) of consumers surveyed expect the economy will improve next year, up from just one-third (33%) heading into the holiday season last year.

General Growth Properties’ Fashion Place shopping center in Murray, Utah, celebrated “Fashion Place Day” on Oct. 15 to commemorate the mall’s 40-year history.

A 15-ft. Mall of Memories wall marked the occasion, and was accompanied by a mayoral declaration and a week of special offers, giveaways, retro fashion shows and a mall-wide birthday party honoring 40 kids affected by cancer.

“We think Fashion Place looks fabulous for being 40,” said Natalie Watson, Fashion Place senior marketing manager.

Dallas -- A survey released Tuesday by Chase Paymentech, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., found that online companies are expecting the 2012 holiday shopping season to be better than last year.

According to the Chase Paymentech eHoliday Shopping Monitor, 59% of e-commerce companies surveyed expect better sales volume this season than in 2011, while almost half (47%) expect it to be better than pre-recession levels in 2007.

By Bruce M. Cross, [email protected]

In the holiday rush, it's easy to overlook wage-hour issues. This article discusses common ones to which retailers should be alerted, including: temporary workers and independent contractors; unpaid interns and trainees; “off-the-clock” work, meal and rest breaks; seating requirements; cost of uniforms; workplace safety; and overtime exemptions.

Temporary workers

NEW YORK — Banana Republic customers can't seem to get enough of the 'Mad Men' style, so the retailer is bringing back the collection for a third installment beginning March 1, 2013.

H&M is hoping to take some of the stigma out of matching family attire with a new line that promises to offer coordinated pieces without compromising individual style.

The retailer's "Fashion Family" collection will launch on Oct. 22 with chic items as textured jackets, skinny trousers and metallic minis for mom, party dresses and textured jackets for girls, suits, leather jackets and sweaters for dad, and long-sleeve tees, fedoras and sunglasses for boys.