Marketing

With the big holiday season nearly behind us, there are several steps retailers should take to get a jump-start on the competition at keeping the holiday sales momentum going strong well into the new year. Get a better understanding of how new and prospective customers are interacting with your brand when they return or exchange items they received as gifts.

Jockey announced that it will offer $1 million in prizes if quarterback Tim Tebow leads the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl victory. One winner will take home $15,000 if that happens and thousands more will receive free $25 gift cards to shop on the clothier's website.

I recently watched a documentary that claimed the Disneyland Resort begins planning its holiday decorations every February like clockwork. My takeaway from this tidbit is that Disney has hit on something every retailer should know: Relying on last year’s holiday trends or waiting until the last minute to identify new ones is a poor way to lure customers, especially during the holidays when everyone is pressed for time.

‘Tis the season for toy shopping. Fijit Friends, Leap Pads, Monster High Dolls, Lego, Barbie and American Girl Dolls are at the top of the list this year. Toy queries have increased 38 percent in 2011 vs. 2010.

To promote its new line of Alpha Khakis as inherently masculine and desirable, Dockers sent 600 of its online customers a surprise present: three pairs of pants packaged like whiskey bottles. Arriving in limited-edition boxes, the uniquely packaged pants are both smart promotion and cool customer appreciation.

Lowe's has found itself facing a backlash after the retail giant pulled ads from a reality show about American Muslims. Lowe's stopped advertising on TLC's "All-American Muslim" after the Florida Family Association complained, saying the program was "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values."

Dollar General announced it's giving $100,000 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation to support its efforts to provide toys to underprivileged children.

Retailers are focusing on giving shoppers what they want in an effort to turn browsers into buyers and ensure their brand stays top of mind this holiday season. More than 32 percent of consumers will shop online this holiday season, according to a study from the National Retail Federation. This reality makes email a perfect channel for delivering holiday messages. Here are five tactics to ensure your brand is at the top of consumers’ lists this holiday season:

In a first for fashion retail, the Gap has teamed with streaming music startup Roqbot to let users decide on their smartphones which music plays over store loudspeakers. Visitors to the chain’s Chestnut Street location in San Francisco, which has access to Roqbot’s catalog of 6 million songs, can now use their iPhone or Android handsets to select and choose upcoming tunes.