Seasonal

NEW YORK - Deloitte reported that six out of 10 (62%) of its holiday survey respondents plan to spend more or the same on the holidays, a 11 percentage point rise from Deloitte's 2009 holiday survey and the highest level since 2006.

Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed expect the economy to improve next year, down from more than half (54%) who anticipated an improvement at this time last year.

NEW YORK - Macy's announced the creation of grab-and-go "gift shops" in 400 stores and on macys.com.

According to the company, the new main floor "gift shops" will offer a one-stop gifting destination featuring limited-edition gifts exclusive to Macy's, including the latest techie gadgets, stylish apparel and accessories for you and your pets, hot beauty finds and chic home goods.

The holidays are fast approaching, and experts across the board agree that online sales will be crucial to retailer performance. To help online merchants optimize the expected uptick in holiday traffic, e-commerce provider Volusion has released  its “101 Tips to Boost Holiday Sales.” The tips range from logistical improvements in shipping to innovative marketing tactics.

Here are Volusion’s Top 10 suggestions:

1. Ensure the mobile-optimized version of your online store has its logo and the categories are arranged properly.

NEW YORK Deloitte reported that six out of 10 (62%) of its holiday survey respondents plan to spend more or the same on the holidays, a 11 percentage point rise from Deloitte's 2009 holiday survey and the highest level since 2006.

Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed expect the economy to improve next year, down from more than half (54%) who anticipated an improvement at this time last year.