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Chicago -- A majority (88%) of retailers are using social media as part of their 2013 holiday marketing blitz. But they still remain divided about mobile marketing, with only 38% using it this year, down from 50% in 2012.

Holiday shopping continues to encroach on Thanksgiving with Walmart the latest retailer to reveal plans that its promotional activity will begin at 6 p.m. with an expanded range of featured items, price guarantees, deeper inventory levels and detailed crowd control procedures.

Toys “R” Us is debuting the Toys"R"Us Toy Channel, the company's revamped and updated YouTube channel. The channel launches with eight playlists, segregating content by topic to showcase in-demand playthings and new products, interviews with toy industry experts and current commercials from the beloved brand and top toy manufacturers.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us is debuting the Toys"R"Us Toy Channel, the company's revamped and updated YouTube channel. The channel launches with eight playlists, segregating content by topic to showcase in-demand playthings and new products, interviews with toy industry experts, current commercials from the beloved brand and top toy manufacturers, and more.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us 2013 holiday marketing plans include  a new TV campaign that will feature a group of real-life children from local New York charities who think they’re going on a field trip, but actually are going to a Toys “R” Us store where they are given free rein.

Featured at the end of each TV commercial and throughout many of the company’s print and online marketing vehicles, is the hashtag, #WishinAccomplished.
 

The Hub Magazine has awarded Kmart’s pun-drenched campaign, “Ship My Pants,” best of show honors in its third annual Hub Prize competition. Draftfcb Chicago was the agency for the campaign.

“Ship My Pants prevailed because it solved a problem for shoppers — out-of-stocks — with a truly meaningful promise: If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our stores, you can order the item online, on-the-spot, and have it shipped, free-of-charge, to your home,” said Hub Magazine founder Tim Manners.

Hot Pockets is promoting its revamped sandwich line with the help of supermodel Kate Upton and rapper Snoop Dogg. The pair has teamed up in a parody music video called “You Got What I Eat” — a remix of Biz Markie’s 1989 hit single “Just a Friend (You Got What I Need).”

The music video highlights the brand’s re-launch of its Hot Pockets sandwiches which feature 100% Angus Beef and Hickory Ham, real cheese and buttery seasoned crusts.

San Bruno, Calif. -- YouTube is reportedly challenging the Vine video app from Twitter and Instagram video app from Facebook with its own new video app called MixBit. As reported by the New York Times, MixBit allows users to record up to 16 seconds of video (compared to 15 seconds for Instagram and six seconds for Vine) on their smartphones.