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Retailers looking to add sparkle to this year’s Christmas season may want to take a new look at their gift card programs. Last year, more than half of consumers bought at least one gift card for the holidays, according to a report from First Data Corp., an Atlanta-based e-commerce processor.

Indeed, consumers seem to be taking more of a shine than ever to these types of spending vehicles.

With more and more consumers accessing social network sites to gather input and post reviews, Chain Store Age spoke with Dick Reed, CEO of Just Media, on a subject that is a top priority for retailers across the board: how to reach out to consumers in today’s social media world.

Your company has done some detailed research on how consumers make buying decisions in today’s social media world. Tell us about it.

A lot has changed in the past year on the social media block. Facebook and Twitter are no longer the only two major players helping retailers connect and engage with their shoppers in real time. Consumers are flocking to platforms such as social-photo sharing sites Pinterest and Instagram, and some brands are even creating their own social blog accounts on Tumblr.

There’s no question about it: Shoppers will have more options than ever before when it comes to shopping this holiday, from where and how they shop to how they pay. Given the myriad of choices available, experts agree that one of the keys to a successful holiday season — and long-term survival — is customer engagement.

When the days grow shorter and the air starts to turn chilly, retail companies prepare for their hottest time of year. As they get ready for the holiday season, retailers will do well to keep three additional factors in mind:

u Adjust for the presidential election. Typically, retailers market heavily in October and early November to drive store foot traffic as the holidays begin. Early marketing efforts, however, will not go as far this holiday season.

All eyes are on J.C. Penney Co. as it rolls out the first wave of its branded shops to nearly 700 stores nationwide. 

The Annual State of the Industry Report is the centerpiece of this issue of Chain Store Age, and it’s a great read. It’s also very timely.

IRVING, Texas — Michaels Stores has recognized 12 vendor partners for their contributions to Michaels' success over the past year.

The addition of new stores and a 3.8% same-store sales increase enabled Dick’s Sporting Goods to report record second-quarter results, so long as a botched investment in a leading U.K retailer is excluded.

Sale for the quarter ended July 28 increased 10% to $1.4 billion due primarily to a 3.8% comps increase combined with the addition of four new stores. The 3.8% increase consisted of a 2.9% increase at Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, a 4.4% increase at Dick’s Golf Galaxy stores and a 34.6% increase in the company’s e-commerce business.

NEW YORK — Saks Inc. recorded a net loss of $12.3 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, for its second quarter. For the prior year second quarter, the company recorded a net loss of $8.4 million, or 5 cents per diluted share.