Retail

More than half (54%) of shoppers believe the best holiday discounts will be in December and 83% will continue to comparison shop for gifts throughout the month, according to PriceGrabber’s December Winter Holiday Shopping Survey.

The survey of 3,299 U.S. online shopping consumers shows 87% of consumers will conduct most of their holiday shopping in December this year (compared to 78% in 2012).

Target’s online traffic continues to grow at double-digit rates, with mobile sales growing more than 100% for the holiday period.

A search is underway for a new CEO to lead Dorel Industries recreational and leisure products segment following the departure of Robert Baird.

Until a replacement for Baird is named, Peter Woods, CFO of the recreational and leisure segment, will serve as CEO. Baird joined Dorel as president of the recreation and leisure segment in 2008 as part of a reorganization after previously serving in a senior leadership role at Philips Electronics. He also held key roles as companies such as Samsonite, Scott Paper, Bristol Myers and Procter & Gamble before arriving at Dorel.

Truly last minute shoppers will be able to visit the corner of happy and healthy this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day where Walgreens said most of its nearly 8,200 stores will be open.

The company, which features “at the corner of happy & healthy” as its advertising tag line, said most stores will be open until midnight on Christmas Eve and its roughly 1,600 24-hour stores would stay open around the clock. On Christmas Day, most of the company’s non-24-hour stores will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

U.S. retail e-commerce spending from desktop computers for the first 45 days of the November-December 2013 holiday season totaled $37.8 billion, according to comScore. For the first time ever, the most recent workweek saw five individual days eclipse $1 billion in spending, led by Green Monday with $1.4 billion.

For peanut butter cup lovers, the New Year will mark not only a fresh start but also a chance to dig into Butterfinger's latest confection. Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups, which offer a fresh spin on the classic peanut butter and chocolate combo, are now shipping to stores nationwide and will be available beginning in January.

Alco is developing a strategy to improve profitability and deliver shareholder value, following a growing net loss during the third quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to the same period in the prior year.

Net loss totaled $16.4 million, compared to $1.4 million. Results in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 included a non-cash charge of $9.8 million related to a valuation allowance on the company's cumulative deferred tax asset, and $1.1 million of non-recurring expenses attributable to merger activity.

Hickory Farms has launched a new website featuring faster page load times, easier navigation and improved search and checkout functions. Customers can shop on-the-go with the site's mobile- and tablet-friendly design.

In addition, running through Christmas Eve, customers can participate in Hickory Farms' Holiday Hunt Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of six daily instant prizes and be entered to win a $2,500 Visa gift card. Consumers can visit the Hickory Farms Facebook page daily to find the clue for that day's instant prize, which they will find on HickoryFarms.com.