Holidays


  • Makeup containers, including powder compacts and makeup brushes, scattered against a blue background
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    misuma via Getty Images
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    Nearly 30% of shoppers will purchase beauty as a holiday gift

    Headed into the season prestige beauty sales are up, with Gen Alpha contributing to growth in the segment. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 20, 2024
  • Adam Driver in an Amazon ad
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    Retrieved from Amazon on November 20, 2024
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    Adam Driver turns 5-star Amazon reviews into theatrical monologues

    The Hollywood star amps up the drama of “deeply personal” reviews in time for Black Friday week and Cyber Monday deal events.

    By Chris Kelly • Nov. 20, 2024
  • Two golden Christmas tree balls on wood. Explore the Trendline
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    The image by Marco Verch is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Trendline

    Inside the 2024 holiday season

    Retailers are navigating the effects of inflation as retail’s most important quarter looms.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • Mall setting with shoppers walking
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    Emily Elconin via Getty Images
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    Consumers plan to spend $125B over Thanksgiving weekend

    That’s about $5 billion less than shoppers spent during the five-day period in 2023, according to a recent survey from ICSC.

    By Howard Ruben • Nov. 20, 2024
  • A shopper with a handheld basket broweses a display of holiday items at Target.
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    Permission granted by Target
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    It’s a shorter holiday season. Does that matter?

    There are five fewer days between Black Friday and Christmas Day compared to 2023. Here’s how retailers — and consumers — are preparing themselves.

    By Nov. 19, 2024
  • Pinterest holiday gift collection.
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    Courtesy of Pinterest
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    Pinterest introduces celebrity gift guides, shoppable wishlists

    The social media platform is banking on curated gift lists from the likes of Alicia Keys and Wirecutter to win shoppers this season.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 15, 2024
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Target extends store hours for the holidays, Nuuly launches ‘The Thrift Shop’

    The mass merchant will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight from Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, while the subscription company debuted a perk for discounted styles.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Nov. 15, 2024
  • Nordstrom app
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    Retrieved from Nordstrom on November 13, 2024
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    Nordstrom leverages generative AI for holiday app refresh

    Among the new app features are trend reports, which blend the expertise of Nordstrom stylists with artificial intelligence to deliver relevant trends. 

    By Aaron Baar • Nov. 15, 2024
  • Kris from Target in a holiday campaign
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Target debuts ‘weirdly hot’ Santa for second holiday advertising push

    The retailer is running two distinct holiday campaigns for the first time to appeal to consumers who view the season as too transactional.

    By Peter Adams • Nov. 15, 2024
  • Person sits on an oversized chair with a computer and a Christmas tree, presents and Santa hat in the background.
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    Ivan Pantic via Getty Images
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    US holiday retail sales to reach $1 trillion

    About a quarter of those sales will occur online this year, a Forrester report predicts.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 14, 2024
  • Person sits on a couch shopping on an iPad next to a Christmas tree.
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    Anchiy via Getty Images
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    Holiday sales growth expected to stay below 10-year average

    Retailers are likely to lean on discounts to drive sales as consumers continue feeling the pressure of inflation, according to an S&P Global Ratings report.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • Anthony Edwards holding a pair of sneakers
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    Courtesy of Foot Locker
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    NBA players Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball star in Foot Locker’s holiday campaign

    Grammy-nominated artist Coi Leray is also featured in the ads, which will air across paid media, in-store displays, social channels and more.

    By Howard Ruben • Nov. 13, 2024
  • A self-checkout station at a Metropolitan Market store in Mercer Island, Washington.
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    Jeff Wells/Retail Dive
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    How retailers are making it harder to shop, just in time for the holidays

    Thwarting customers, in stores or online, isn’t any way to make a sale.

    By Nov. 12, 2024
  • The indoor mall entrance of the Von Maur department store at South Hills Village in November, 2024
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    Permission granted by Von Maur
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    Von Maur opens first store in Pennsylvania

    The family-owned department store chain plans to open its first store in North Dakota next year and is investing $100 million to renovate its existing stores.

    By Nov. 11, 2024
  • ‘Contradictions and mixed signals’ in the economy won’t affect holiday sales growth: NRF

    The trade organization is maintaining its holiday forecast for the year, stating that households are in decent financial shape. 

    By Nov. 11, 2024
  • A person's hand holding a phone and on the screen is an image of a shopping cart with a banner above that says "BUY NOW PAY LATER!A
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    Creative via Getty Images
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    67% of parents will use BNPL to finance the holidays

    Parents are using pay later plans to justify large purchases and better manage their finances, according to a new survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 8, 2024
  • Amazon's virtual holiday shop.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Amazon debuts virtual holiday shop

    The immersive 3D shopping experience includes music, animations and a guided journey to help with product discovery.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 7, 2024
  • Virtual grocery store featuring Benefit Cosmetics.
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    Courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics
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    Benefit Cosmetics launches first virtual 3D shopping experience

    The grocery store-inspired digital space, dubbed “The Benemart,” blends gaming and holiday shopping. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 7, 2024
  • A bright yellow sign against a blue roof says "Best Buy" in bold black letters.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Best Buy pushes tech in holiday ad series

    The campaign features the retailer’s new hologram spokesperson, “Gram,” and addresses common problems like finding the perfect gift.

    By Nov. 6, 2024
  • JJ Watt in a Dick's ad
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    Retrieved from Dick's Sporting Goods on November 06, 2024
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    Dick’s recreates iconic holiday film moments with NFL’s Watt brothers

    In a new spot, former NFL player J.J. Watt is trapped in a Dick’s store after closing, leading to a series of silly antics.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 6, 2024
  • A janitor wearing a blue jumpsuit stands in the spotlight on a theater stage in Amazon's 2024 holiday marketing campaign
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    Permission granted by Amazon
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    Amazon’s holiday campaign spotlights classic song, acts of kindness

    “What the World Needs Now Is Love” features heavily in the effort that extends Amazon's focus on music around the holidays.

    By Peter Adams • Nov. 5, 2024
  • Waldo, wearing a striped shirt, hugs a gift-giverin Etsy's holiday marketing campaign.
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    Permission granted by Etsy
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    Etsy focuses on personalized gifts in sprawling holiday campaign

    Waldo, of “Where’s Waldo?” fame, travels the world but only feels seen upon returning home and receiving a thoughtful gift in the platform’s campaign.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 5, 2024
  • A shopper with a handheld basket broweses a display of holiday items at Target.
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    Permission granted by Target
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    Target touts early Black Friday sale

    This week, the retailer will hold a pre-Thanksgiving sale and has also begun offering daily and weekly deals.

    By Nov. 4, 2024
  • A smartphone displaying the Affirm app
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    Courtesy of Affirm
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    In time for the holidays, Affirm updates its app

    Consumers made more purchases via BNPL platforms last holiday season. With the lingering impact of inflation, shoppers may do the same this year. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 31, 2024
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Retailers creeping it real

    Halloween will drive $11.6 billion in spending this year. Plus, it’s fun!

    By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 31, 2024
  • A person brings Walmart bags inside their house.
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart+ annual membership fee slashed in half for the holidays

    The retail giant is also offering trial subscriptions as usual amid a Black Friday-Cyber Monday push ahead of an extra-short season.

    By Oct. 30, 2024