Mass Merchant

New York City -- Deloitte’s 26th annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends, released Thursday, found that nearly half (48%) of consumers say they most likely will shop for gifts online this holiday season – a 13% increase from last year. 

This makes the Internet the No.1 shopping destination, now tied with discount stores, for the first time since adding the channel to Deloitte’s annual study.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 rose 20% to $211 million, compared with $176 million in the year-ago period.

The retailer cited cost cuts and strong demand for exclusive brands for the strong performance, which matched Wall Street expectations.

Washington, D.C. -- Survey results released Thursday by the National Retail Federation found that fewer retailers expect return fraud rates to grow this holiday season, due in part to stronger checks and balances and to enhanced return policies.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Thursday that it will kick off the holiday season at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving with three Black Friday sale events.

Black Friday circulars were released Thursday via Facebook and walmart.com to promote the early savings, which include specials on electronics and toys.

"Our customers told us they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early, so we're going to hold special events on Thanksgiving and Black Friday," said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it  has partnered with fashion and music icon Gwen Stefani to create Harajuku Mini for Target, an exclusive collection featuring apparel and accessories for girl and boy infants and toddlers and tween girls. The first installment of this collection will be available beginning Nov. 13 at Target stores.

CINCINNATI — Macy's Inc. reported that earnings were 32 cents per diluted share for the third quarter of 2011, ended Oct. 29, compared with earnings of 2 cents per diluted share in last year's third quarter, or 8 cents per diluted share in last year's third quarter excluding expenses of 6 cents per share associated with the repurchase of debt.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Walmart is looking to offer shoppers ways to access Walmart both in-store and online with the launch of new mobile applications for iPhone and iPad devices.

Walmart said the free apps are the first of several mobile products to be rolled out from the recently formed @WalmartLabs group under Walmart's global e-commerce unit.

The updated iPhone app includes such new features as:

• Voice: Users can add items to shopping list by speaking, typing or scanning bar codes;

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The Walmart Foundation has announced a two-year $750,000 grant to Veterans Green Jobs. With this funding, Veterans Green Jobs will connect with 1,000 veterans through its training and employment initiatives and place many of those veterans into full-time green sector jobs, the foundation reported. This is the latest commitment under the Walmart Foundation's recently announced five-year, $20 million giving initiative aimed at combating the high veteran unemployment rate.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us announced that it has partnered with Nickelodeon Consumer Products for an exclusive line of consumer electronics inspired by the hit Nickelodeon show, "Victorious."

LOS ANGELES — Retailers would be wise to focus more of their efforts on Cyber Monday this year, at least according to new research from IBISWorld, which found that Cyber Monday sales are expected to increase 12.4%. The firm expects Black Friday sales will only see marginal growth as consumers continue to move away from brick-and-mortar shopping.