WASHINGTON — Letter carrier James Solomon thought he knew all the tricks to prevent a dog attack: watch the pet’s mannerisms, use the mail satchel as a shield, pull out the emergency dog spray — it contains an extract of cayenne pepper. But nothing prepared the 17-year postal veteran from Hatboro, Pa., for what happened [...]
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tomorrow’s retail stores want to take a page from their online rivals by embracing advanced technology — everything from helpful robots to interactive mirrors to shelves embedded with sensors. The goal: Use these real-world store features to lure shoppers back from the internet, and maybe even nudge them to spend more [...]
Gift cards are a popular present at the holidays — the National Retail Federation says more than half of consumers plan to give one this year. But they aren’t always wanted — research organization CEB TowerGroup estimates that $1 billion of the $130 billion spent on gift cards last year went unused. It could be [...]
NEW YORK (AP) — A divisive election that left half the country deflated and the other half rejuvenated could reverberate through the holiday shopping season in the kind of gifts people are giving or how much they spend. Some retailers say they have seen a surge in feel-good items such as spa treatments, candles and [...]
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of holiday shopping, but it’s not always as easy to foot the bill. The National Retail Federation says consumers plan to spend an average of $935.58 during the holiday shopping season — the second highest level on record. Whether that is a little or a lot [...]
NEW YORK (AP) — Serious deal-seekers are already planning their Thanksgiving weekend shopping, and experts believe that once again the holiday itself may offer better deals than Black Friday the day afterward. Amid the clutter of deals clamoring for attention, smart and careful shoppers can come out ahead. “Start researching and planning,” says Benjamin Glaser, [...]
NEW YORK — Thanksgiving Day shopping — a delight to some, an anathema to others — isn’t going away, but some stores are rethinking their strategies on whether it makes sense to be open on the holiday itself. Many of the nation’s major mall operators and the big retailers that anchor them, such as Toys [...]
NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers are dangling perks like higher pay, extra discounts and more flexible schedules to lure temporary holiday workers in a tighter labor market. They’re also more determined to lock in their workers earlier. Macy’s and Target are holding their first nationwide recruitment fairs, and others like consumer electronics chain Hhgregg Inc. [...]
NEW YORK (AP) — More sophisticated cameras. Security robots. Customers feeling shaken by recent attacks at U.S. malls may not notice huge changes — but mall operators are testing and putting in place new technologies and other measures to offer people more protection without intruding too much on their shopping time. Mall executives say shoppers [...]
NEW YORK (AP) — Buying some suits at Ralph Lauren might mean being offered a chauffeured ride home in a BMW. New clothes from Saks could lead to a Mercedes-Benz van carrying a customized wardrobe pulling up to a home, hotel or office. With designer goods available online anytime, luxury retailers are adding more amenities [...]