Holidays

Sponsored by Waze

The new Mother's Day: Help shoppers create a day fit for the leading ladies in their lives

As customers start thinking about the upcoming holiday, retailers can help ease the shopping journey for customers looking to honor the leading ladies in their lives.

What the holidays mean for retail in 2021

The pandemic altered the season in various ways, with consequences for this year and beyond.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 20, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Inside a reimagined holiday season

As retailers and consumers navigated the twin challenges of the pandemic and the holidays, nearly every aspect of the season was re-engineered to meet the moment. 

By Retail Dive staff

By the numbers: Holiday retail sales in 2020

Kohl's comparable sales fell by 11% during the fourth quarter — an improvement over earlier periods — while it focused on cutting costs.

By Daphne Howland , Ben Unglesbee , Kaarin Vembar • UPDATED: Feb. 4, 2021 at 12:18 p.m.

GameStop adds former Chewy execs to board as digital holiday sales balloon by 309%

The founder of the pet products e-tailer has taken an activist stake in GameStop and called on it to transform — immediately.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 12, 2021

Will the e-commerce boom be a bust this season?

An unprecedented number of packages are taxing retailers' ability to deliver. A lot are going to be late, and that will have consequences beyond the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 22, 2020

Congress agrees on $900B pandemic relief package

The second round of support includes $600 in direct payments, half that of the first, but all told could steady the economy as COVID-19 vaccines roll out.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2020

Walmart and Amazon launch return options as some predict holiday onslaught

The retail giants are vying to be the most convenient option not just for buying but also for sending goods back. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 21, 2020

Most shoppers plan on making a return after the holidays

This year's online surge means a record number of items could make their way back onto shelves. Retailers should see it as an opportunity.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2020

Advantage shifts to stores as a holiday dominated by e-commerce wraps up

At this point, even many online orders will be fulfilled via brick and mortar.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 18, 2020

USPS experiencing 'historic' volume of packages

The agency is also undergoing a temporary employee shortage due to the COVID-19 surge and warns of short-term delays. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2020

46% of shoppers more likely to shop small this year: survey

Research from Comcast Business suggests features like BOPIS and curbside pickup could lure consumers to small businesses.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2020

Amazon, Walmart tout last-minute holiday delivery options

In a year when the industry worked to get the season started early, the retail giants are encouraging customers to shop as late as Christmas Eve.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 17, 2020

Podcast

The Backroom: What Black Friday tells us about retail in 2021

The shopping holiday was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its trends and repercussions will likely follow the industry into the next year. 

By Retail Dive Team • Dec. 17, 2020

Retailers did not achieve one-day delivery in 2020: study

Companies took about three days to fulfill orders, while brick-and-mortar locations leveraged BOPIS and curbside pickup services.  

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 17, 2020

The pandemic economy weighs on retailers in November

The results could have been worse, given the government's failure to renew financial support to consumers and businesses amid the holiday season.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 16, 2020

Bed Bath & Beyond, Shipt partner on same-day delivery promotion

Free, same-day delivery will be available for a limited time as part of an effort to help customers beat the holiday shipping rush. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 15, 2020

Retailers' best e-commerce asset may be their brick-and-mortar stores

In a rare vulnerability for Amazon, research is piling up that customers want omnichannel services for both shopping and returns. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 14, 2020

What's selling in 2020's holiday season

This year, consumers sought out comfort over experiences.

By Caroline Jansen • Dec. 14, 2020

Package delay rate could be up to 2 times worse this holiday season: report

Densely populated areas including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are expected to face record delays. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 10, 2020

Consumers are spending less this holiday season: survey

But, they are shopping online due to convenience, deals and free shipping — a trend that may stick around even after the pandemic.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 09, 2020

CBRE: Holiday sales expected to generate $70.5B in returns

Logistics providers face capacity constraints during peak season, but expanded networks should help retailers with returns after the holidays. 

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 09, 2020

Best Buy extends curbside pickup hours for holiday shopping

In a holiday season where online is king, the electronics retailer is preparing for increased orders with more delivery options.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 08, 2020

Why 20 brands are sending out a joint holiday catalog this season

Born out of the crisis of the pandemic, the Mission Brand Alliance is looking to push consumers to other values-driven brands by banding together.

By Cara Salpini • Dec. 07, 2020

Small and mighty: How independent retailers are navigating the holidays

Indie players' challenges mimic those of larger retailers. But, small businesses are finding creative solutions for customers during an unpredictable season. 

By Kaarin Vembar • Dec. 07, 2020

Belk offers virtual festivities for the holidays

Activities include phone calls from Santa, a social media decorating contest and surprise gift cards tied to its in-store and curbside pickup services. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 04, 2020