Ah, January. The month in which most of us make a plan to lose weight (or get fit, or stop smoking, or…), get off track after about a week, and feel ashamed whenever the television reminds us that we’ve failed. Isn’t it lovely?

Some shopping centers are taking a healthier look at our New Years resolution habits. Ward Centers in Hawaii, US,  is helping shoppers keep their vows to quit smoking. The American Lung Association of Hawaii recently spent a day at the shopping center, handing out free Survival Kits for those trying to quit. Shoppers who picked up a kit and completed a survey were also eligible to win prize, including $25 Ward Centers gift cards.

Westfield is also getting in on our resolutions at a number of its shopping centers. The center websites cover a number of common resolutions – saving money, spending more time with loved ones, losing weight, and more – and offer suggestions of mall retailers that can help shoppers meet their goals. Some of them may be a bit of a stretch (how many of us have resolved to update our wardrobes this year, I wonder), but the idea works pretty well.

Huntington Mall in West Virgina, US, enjoyed a feel-good Christmas event last weekend. The shopping center held its Christmas Cookie contest on Saturday, and shoppers were eager to show off their baked goods.

The tasty treats were judged on recipe originality and simplicity, and cookie taste, appearance and presentation. The winners took home gift certificates from shopping center retailers, but it sounds like the judges were the real winners on Saturday. Winning cookies ranged from frosted banana to a more traditional peanut butter chocolate chip.

It may be a simple contest, but imagining my mall filled with the scent of fresh baked cookies makes me hope more of you will be using this idea in the future.

With long lineups and grumpy customers, retail workers don’t always have a lot to smile about as Christmas approaches, but happy workers help make happy shoppers. That’s why Crossroads Center, in Iowa, US, is dedicated to putting smiles on the faces of both its shoppers and its retail workers this holiday season.

As part of its “Spread the Cheer” initiative, the shopping center is encouraging shoppers to keep an eye out for store employees that go out of their way to be extra friendly or helpful. Shoppers that put in a good word for an employee (on the mall’s website or at Customer Service) are entered into a draw for a $250 mall shopping spree – and those special employees are entered in a second draw for a $250 shopping spree.

It’s a low-risk idea that may generate plenty of good will this holiday season, so kudos to Crossroads Center.

Some of us get our best holiday shopping ideas while stuck in traffic, but Memorial City Mall in Texas, US is rewarding shoppers for doing their part to help reduce traffic and improve the environment.

The mall has teamed up with NuRide, an online community that rewards commuters for sharing rides with their community members. For the month of December, anyone in Houston who records a shared ride on NuRide will be eligible for a daily draw of a $100 gift certificate from Memorial City Mall.

Maybe the lucky winners can share a ride to the mall!

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.

On December 1st, people around the globe participated in World AIDS Day. Retailers in South Carolina, USA, are taking part in a great initiative that benefits a local AIDS awareness and support organization. “Shopping with Friends” is organized by Lowcountry AIDS Services, and it brings together 120 local retailers for a good cause.

On Saturday, the “Red Ribbon Retailers” will donate 10% of their sales to the cause. Shoppers can buy for the holidays secure in the knowledge that their purchases will help make a difference in many lives. The festivities also include a evening of cocktails at Saks Fifth Avenue, and a kick-off brunch with ticket sales for the charity.

A number of shopping centers also took part in World AIDS Day, with eductional events and free testing. Did your shopping center take part?