Holiday Season news and archive

UK retail footfall ends 2024 on subdued note

Retail footfall in the UK continued its downward trajectory in December, marking the second consecutive year of decline for brick-and-mortar retail traffic. Total footfall fell 2.2 percent year-on-year in December, though this represented an improvement from November's 4.5 percent decline, partly due to the shifted timing of Black Friday between...

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Business

US retail sales up 3.8% this holiday season according to Mastercard SpendingPulse

This Christmas season proved to be a merry one for US retailers, with retail sales increasing 3.8 percent year on year from November 1 to December 24, according to insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse. "The holiday shopping season revealed a consumer who is willing and able to spend but driven by a search for value as can be seen by...

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Fashion |In Pictures

Christmas displays from around the world

With Christmas fast approaching, FashionUnited has rounded up the best of this year’s festive displays, from Sir Paul Smith’s takeover at Claridge’s in London to Selfridges maximalist take on the holiday season, Saks Fifth Avenue’s dazzling 100th-anniversary showcase in New York, Fenwick’s 12 Days of Christmas in Newcastle, Dior’s showstopping...

Retail

UK retailers feed off public affection for festive ads

They come with big budgets, are wrapped in sentimentality and boost company revenues -- Britain's latest instalment of eagerly awaited Christmas television advertisements has a nation tuned in. Known for talking about the weather 12 months a year, Britons will begin sharing thoughts on the latest festive commercials as soon as they hit screens,...

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Retail|Interview

SoHo Pink Dreams: A look inside Nana Jacqueline's debut NYC pop-up store

Walking down West Broadway in SoHo, New York City, is always a feast for all senses - especially this time of year, when all the stores have their holiday lights and displays out in full force. With many retailers vying for the attention of tourists and locals, one storefront in particular succeeds in catching your eye immediately. The debut New...

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Fashion |Beauty

NYX Professional Makeup launches ‘Home Alone’ collection

NYX Professional Makeup has teamed up with Disney and 20th Century Studios to release a special-edition make-up collection inspired by the Christmas movie, 'Home Alone’. Tapping into pop culture nostalgia, NYX Professional Makeup has created a 24-piece advent calendar inspired by iconic elements of the ‘Home Alone’ movie, housed within a replica...

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Business

Against all odds: Luxury records an unexpected performance at the end of the year

While the luxury sector has experienced some real turbulence this year, a study is shaking up the forecasts. According to the latest Saks Luxury Pulse survey, 82 percent of affluent consumers plan to increase their spending this holiday season. This almost unexpected burst of optimism offers new insights into the outlook for the sector. But what...

Fashion

Amazon dominates holiday gift search

Amazon has emerged as the dominant online platform for UK holiday shoppers, with over half (52 percent) turning to it for festive gift inspiration, surpassing Google, which attracted only 31 percent of shoppers, according to recent research by Nosto. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are quickly gaining relevance, with 8 percent of UK consumers...

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Retail

US holiday spending expected to be up 3.2% year-on-year this season

US shoppers are expected to spend 3.2 percent more this holiday season than last year, as retailers nationwide kick off the seasonal period earlier each year. According to Mastercard’s latest SpendingPulse Insights data, which tracks in-store and online retail sales across all payment types, US holiday shoppers will likely concentrate most of...

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Retail

51% of consumers reportedly prefer in-store shopping ahead of holiday season

51 percent of UK and US adult shoppers prefer in-store shopping over online shopping, according to the latest insights from x-hoppers, an AI retail communication solutions provider. 62 percent of shoppers aged 55 and over were found to favor in-store shopping even more based on a survey conducted in September 2024 with market research firm Sago,...

Retail

Loro Piana to takeover Harrods for the holiday season

Italian luxury brand Loro Piana, owned by LVMH Group, has announced it will takeover luxury department store Harrods in London for the holiday season. The move coincides with Loro Piana’s 100th anniversary and will see the luxury brand taking over Harrods iconic façade, including 36 windows on Brompton Road, alongside the opening of two pop-ups...

Retail|In Pictures

Stella McCartney launches installation at Selfridges Corner Shop

British luxury womenswear label Stella McCartney has opened a “theatrical extravaganza” at the Selfridges Corner Shop space. The installation, titled ‘Stellabration,’ will run until December 28 and is described as an “emotional and energetic exploration of light, joy and nostalgia, with a touch of festive drama and delight”. At the heart of the...