Macy's’ Post

Christmas Eve 2024: Which Stores Are Open & Which Stores Are Closed? Christmas Eve is just around the corner, and people are wondering what stores will be open and what stores will be closed. Whether they need to do some last-minute shopping or just need to get an emergency gallon of milk, Americans all over the country will need to know where they can go, whether they celebrate the holiday or not. So, what’s going on? Read more and find out: https://lnkd.in/gtgTn3Yv

I couldn’t help but wonder: does Christmas really need saving? 🎄🎅 Every year, it seems, British grocers compete to out-glitter, out-gnome, and out-carrot each other in a holiday ad blitz that rivals even the most elaborate festive decorations. But this year, the ads all share a strange twist... Have you noticed? Sainsbury's brings in a towering BFG to "save" the holiday spirit, ASDA recruits a platoon of plucky gnomes, and Aldi’s beloved Kevin the Carrot seems to be waging his own whimsical war on Christmas catastrophe. Even the blessed Dawn French has her own Christmas Fairy... But as I watched these tiny "Christmas saviours" go about their heroics, I wondered - are we really in such desperate need of rescuing? Are we unable to manage a meal, decorate a tree, and toast to the season without an army of enchanted helpers? Where’s the warmth, the cosiness, the soft-focus nostalgia we expect from a Christmas ad? You know the feeling—the joy of coming home for the holidays, the thrill of twinkling lights in the dark, the comfort of snuggling under blankets as the snow falls outside. Instead, it seems we’re treated to scenes of grandiose rescues, as if Christmas has morphed into some sort of apocalyptic battle to keep the lights on and the roast potatoes coming. Have grocers decided we’re too hapless to plan a festive meal ourselves? Have they, perhaps, forgotten the essence of what makes the season special? The moments we cherish aren’t about saving the day but savouring the feeling. Christmas isn’t about a "mission" to complete; it’s about memories we create—small, personal, and so often imperfect. Maybe it’s time to remind the grocers that we don’t need them to save Christmas; we just need them to show us a little warmth, a little kindness, and a reminder of why we celebrate in the first place. Because, sometimes, the simplest traditions don’t need saving—they just need savouring. #christmasads #kevinthecarrot Asda Sainsbury's Aldi UK Marks and Spencer System1

The Magic of Christmas Windows in Retail There’s something undeniably magical about Christmas windows. They aren’t just displays—they’re experiences, transporting us into festive wonderlands that evoke nostalgia, delight, and often, a sprinkle of childhood joy. Tonight, after the much-loved classic The Holiday (the perfect Sunday evening companion!), I’ll be diving into the importance of Christmas windows on a primetime programme. These displays are not only beautiful—they’re also strategic. For retailers, they’re an opportunity to connect with customers on a deeply emotional level, sparking excitement and setting the tone for the all-important holiday season. Done well, they can create a sense of belonging and even become iconic moments of the season themselves. I’ll be discussing the artistry, storytelling, and consumer impact of these windows and exploring why, even in the age of e-commerce, they remain a vital part of the retail experience. Grab a festive treat, settle in, and join me later this evening See you then 🎄 The Customer Whisperer TV Credit: Coming Up Roses Sara Cameron Speakers Corner ICMI Speakers and Entertainers Motivate Talent #ChrismasLights #ChristmasWindows #London #Harrods #hamleys #fortnumandmason #selfridges #liberty #TheCustomerWhisperer #RetailMagic #ChristmasWindows #CustomerExperience #TheCustomerWhisperer

Hearing “One week until Christmas!” As a Manager in Retail can do one of two things: 1. It can ignite excitement as you think of the finish line in sight, you’re really proud of yourself because everything’s ordered, merchandised beautifully, there’s no people management issues and you’re just enjoying your last couple of shifts before the big day. 2. Realistically, and much more likely is, it can make you feel like anything you want to implement is “too late” and you allow yourself to get consumed with what you’ll do different next year. You’ve not got the right stock levels in and you’re comparing your store to others on a league that are performing better. At the risk of preaching, I honestly wish when I was managing any of my stores during this period that I’d really leant into the excitement and fun this week will bring. I wish I’d focussed on what was in my circle of control and that comparison is the thief of joy. So don’t waste time speculating on how store X achieved the numbers they did, stop looking at your fulfilment report on your most recent order worrying about what isnt coming from the factory and instead go onto your shop floors and speak to your team and customers about absolutely anything and everything: what are they doing with their time off at Christmas? What’s their favourite component of their Christmas dinner? Which relative are they most excited to see? And finally remember that a week in Retail is a long time, you absolutely can still implement a change within your shops and your teams this side of Christmas 🎄🎁💪🏼 #retail #christmas #christmasweek #retailatchristmas

It's no secret that Christmas coming early is a huge booster to the Retail sector, and with some of my favourite brands including Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Aldi UK and more releasing their Christmas Ads, I thought I'd come on here and share my thoughts on early Christmas and some points as to why this has such a huge impact on the Retail and Hospitality sector🎄 🎄I love Christmas shopping and try to get this done early so I can really celebrate in December. People out shopping has massive impact on store footfall and purchases throughout November and December! This season really helps the Retail sector keep afloat and really should be celebrated🎉 🎅Treating my niece and nephew to different experiences, such as taking them out for hot chocolates, taking them to meet Father Christmas, Christmas walks, the list goes on! Retail and Hospitality as sectors are all about making memories, and so is Christmas! Book the meal, go on the walk, and enjoy it! Bookings with restaurants and coffee shops go a long way in the hospitality sector, this is my favourite time to go out with friends and family☕ 🎄Purchasing decorations, gifts, and food! All the things that make Christmas special, this is the 'Golden Quarter' for Retail, and a lot of Retailers become profitable around this time. A stat I found interesting was 49% of UK retailers displayed Christmas goods earlier in 2023, with 25% putting up displays as early as September! I'd be lying if I said I didn't purchase Christmas goods earlier in the year💷 A full two-thirds of Brits (69%) will start Christmas shopping by August or earlier. Three-quarters of Brits (77%) will start by September, and 85% of UK consumers will start by October! Some of the stats above share just why Christmas is such an important time for Retailers! I personally am all for an early Christmas, and it's my favourite time of year. I love seeing the ads, the different campaign ideas, the decorations, the gifts, and food! Now, if anyone needs me I'll be having a hot chocolate in front of the Christmas tree, and waiting for the John Lewis & Partners ad to come on TV! #christmas #retail

Memorial Day weekend could see slightly higher spending this year than last.  That’s according to market research firm Numerator’s survey of over 5,500 consumers, which found that 68% of Memorial Day shoppers plan to spend under $100 on their holiday supplies, and nearly a quarter (23%) expect to spend more this year than they did last year. #consumerinsights #retailsales #memorialday

Gather round for the latest in #Canadian #consumerinsights: according to our just-published 2024 Canadian Q4 #Holiday Preview, based on a survey of 2.2k+ Canadian consumers, most consumers plan to celebrate at least two more holidays in 2024. Consumer intentions to celebrate Halloween and Christmas are both up compared to 2023. - #Cooking & gathering will be the top ways consumers celebrate #Thanksgiving. A fifth of Thanksgiving celebrators plan to spend more on the holiday this year, while two-thirds will spend the same as last year. -About two-thirds of intended #Halloween celebrators say they’ll hand out candy or decorate their home, while two-fifths will go out trick-or-treating, either themselves or accompanying someone else like their children. - #Christmas shoppers will spread their dollars across channels this year. Mass #retailers will likely see the most activity this Christmas season, followed by #grocery stores, #liquor stores and #onlineretailers. #radio #advertising #prospecting #sales

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Culture is reflected by behaviour that is expected and tolerated. When the man himself is getting stuck in ‘at the coal face’ all his people clearly know what’s expected and what will be tolerated. 🚀🚀🚀 #companyculture #culture #culturalintelligence #authenticity #leadbyexample #negotiationskills #executivecoaching

Spirit Halloween has mastered the art of pop-up retail, turning vacant spaces into thriving seasonal destinations. With a record-breaking 1,525 locations across the US and Canada this year, they've capitalized on the closures of traditional retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond, RITE AID, Christmas Tree Shops and Tuesday Morning. This strategic approach has allowed Spirit to secure prime real estate in high-traffic areas, demonstrating the power of flexible, temporary retail models in today's evolving market landscape. The logistics behind Spirit Halloween's success are truly impressive. Managing the opening and closing of over 1,500 stores annually requires exceptional planning and execution. From securing short-term leases to rapidly transforming spaces with Halloween-themed decor and merchandise, Spirit has fine-tuned its operations to maximize efficiency. Their ability to quickly set up shop, capitalize on the Halloween season, and then seamlessly close down demonstrates a level of operational agility that many traditional retailers struggle to achieve. And now they are launching Spirit Christmas stores!!!!!! This highlights how moving from strategy to world class execution can be a differentiator and disruptor capitalizing on market shifts and trends! #PopUpRetail #RetailInnovation #SeasonalBusiness #RetailStrategy #SpiritHalloween