- Retailers Re-Embrace Christmas: Should we say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?” The debate is heated, and this year the trend is changing. (Forbes)
- Stores more aggressive with marketing this season: It looks as though predictions of a season of deep discounts are coming true. (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Mary Portas: shopping is gone, bring back the car boot sale: It doesn’t seem as though more car boot sales will save the high street, but Portas knows best. (Telegraph)
- The Future of Retail? Look To Its Past: Technology may change retail, but it doesn’t change people. (Harvard Business Review)
- No Hit Toy to Brighten Retailers’ Christmas: It’s not as bleak as it sounds, but toy retailers do need to be cautious in the face of a season without a must-have. (New York Times – registration required)
- Retailers move with lightning speed to create mobile apps: A look at the way real people are using mobile to enhance their shopping experiences. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
- Mall powers its Christmas tree lights with energy from shoppers’ footsteps: Midsummer Place has implemented this tech on the small scale, but every little bit helps. (Click Green)
- Cleaners’ strike to hit Christmas shoppers: Australian cleaners have, of course, timed their strike for maximum impact. (The Age)
- Disney rebooting its retail stores à la Apple: Steve Jobs, Disney’s biggest investor, inspired the company to “think big.” (Star Tribune)
- Lowe’s in Facebook Hell as Racist Comments Pile Up: Lowe’s is in the midst of a PR nightmare after pulling its advertising from ‘All-American Muslim.’ (Adweek)
- U.S. retailers trim Europe plans on region’s debt woes: U.S. retail chains may need to accept that there’s no magic bullet for investment at this point. (Reuters)
- Macy’s to Keep Stores Open Around the Clock Pre-Christmas: Last-minute shoppers will have no excuses this year. (Forbes)
- Virgin Mobile’s high-tech solution to Christmas shopping jingle hell: Some shoppers can’t stand Christmas music. Virgin has found a way to help them out without spoiling everyone’s fun. (news.com.au)
