Stores get creative to lure shoppers

Toys ‘R’ Us has set up 350 temporary stores -or pop-ups – in empty retail spaces for the holiday season.

The National Retail Federation predicts that consumers will spend about $20 less on holiday shopping this year, compared to 2008. Retailers are responding with creative ways to lure in bargain hunters.

Toys ‘R’ Us has set up 350 temporary stores – or pop-ups – in empty retail spaces for the holiday season.

QVC has expanded its mobile presence by launching a shopping application on the iPhone and Walmart is considering a drive-thru lane for customers to pick up online purchases.

Ellen Davis is the Vice President of the National Retail Federation. She says retailers are doing everything they can to compete during holiday crunch time.

Davis: Many of them have had an eagle on the month of November and December all year long. Companies have been cutting back on staff cutting back on inventory and even lowering marketing spending in order to try to lower prices and pass those prices onto the customers.

Davis says holiday retail represents between 25% and 40% of a retailer’s annual sales.