Seasons greetings, merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah to all of you from all of us at Shopping Center Weekly! We hope you have a safe and happy holiday, and a wonderful New Year.

Since Christmas falls on our usual newsletter release this week, there will be an early issue. It’s short but sweet – a perfect treat for the start of a nice winter break.

Our next newsletter will arrive in your inbox on January 8th, full-length and filled with great stories and ideas from shopping centers around the world. We can’t wait to share it with you.

Until then, take care and have a great holiday!

There are free iTunes downloads up for grabs at Starbucks.
Read about this and other promotions in the current edition of Tactics Magazine.

Internet radio advertising is one of the topics that we’ll be tackling in the January edition of Marketing Trendz.

Don’t miss it!

It’s boom time for Saint Nick

Seattle PI, US

For about a month each year, Beck is Kriss Kringle at the Bellevue Square mall. And though the economy is reeling, business is better than ever — on a good day, 50 kids an hour may sit on his lap and get their photos taken …

Mall wish trees help provide presents for hundreds

Goldsboro News-Argus, US

More than 650 children and senior citizens in Wayne County will have a much merrier Christmas this year because of holiday shoppers with big hearts.In early November, Berkeley Mall set out three wish trees in the main entrance — one for boys, one for girls and one for senior citizens — where mall goers could help grant a less fortunate neighbor’s Christmas wish …

Youngsters can Get Into retail with new scheme

Edinburgh Evening News, UK
Dozens of youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds have been signed up for a new retail academy in Edinburgh to learn how to be shop workers. The training programme, Get Into Retail, aims to help those who have faced barriers to employment because of homelessness, family trouble, lack of confidence or long-term unemployment …

German retailers see strong demand despite crisis

Guardian, UK

German retailers reported solid demand in this year’s Christmas shopping season despite the global economic crisis and sales could even exceed last year’s level, the HDE retail association said on Sunday …

Retailers predict Boxing Day shopping frenzy

Perth Now, AU

Perth retailers are predicting a shopping frenzy on Boxing Day as city stores slash prices. Major retailers Myer and David Jones will offer discounts on merchandise across all departments. David Jones Perth store manager Malcolm Reed said he expected Boxing Day trading in Perth city to be “big”…

Holiday shoppers get to malls, hunt for bargins

KDKA, US

Christmas is four days away, Hanukkah starts tonight, and that means last-minute shoppers are running out of time to find the perfect gift for their friends and loved ones. Because this is the last weekend before Christmas it’s considered a make or break time for retailers …

Chavez says mall to be expropriated in Venezuela

Associated Press, US

President Hugo Chavez ordered construction halted on a major shopping mall in Caracas on Sunday, saying the government will expropriate the unfinished building.The Venezuelan leader said it would be out of line with his government’s socialist vision to allow the new Sambil mall to take up precious urban real estate — and that unbridled consumerism isn’t his idea of progress either …

Retailers find Facebook friends in hopes of finding sales

Dallas News, US

Marketers are trying to figure out how to use social networking tools to do what they do best: persuade consumers to buy. They’re watching platforms such as Facebook, which has more than 130 million users worldwide, to see how they can use social commerce without turning consumers off …

“If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away.”

Unknown

Cause Marketing: Cause Marketing is the art of combining your commercial brand with a non-profit issue. Cause marketing campaigns have years of history and range from relatively superficial tactical partnerships, to long-term, strategic alliances that penetrate deeply into business and nonprofit organizations.

Opry Mills has teamed up with Soles4Souls this Christmas, to bring new and gently-worn shoes to thousands who need them around the world.

The shopping center’s plan is especially ambitious. The goal is to build the world’s largest Tower of Shoes, and with over 20,000 pairs of shoes donated so far, it looks like the plan has succeeded.  Shoppers can donate their own gently-worn shoes (which will be refurbished, or, if necessary, recycled), and they can also donate $2 per new pair of shoes they want sponsor.

Opry Mills is displaying the Tower, which is currently 12 feet tall with one more week to go. The Tower features stories and photos of people who’ve been helped by the charity.