According to NRF’s latest graduation survey conducted by BIGinsight, family and friends want to make this milestone special for their loved ones while also staying on budget. On average, consumers will spend $49 per recipient, a slight decrease from last year’s $51. For more graduation statistics, visit the Retail Insight Center to access the full data.

This year’s survey also found that gift-givers will purchase gifts for up to two graduates; shelling out an average of $94.

While these young adults are now on their way to making some of the most important decisions of their lives, consumers are willing to give them a push in the right direction with the most practical gift of all – cash.  An estimated 57 percent of consumers plan to give money. For grads, cash is the perfect gift for future needs from college expenditures to their first apartment.

Consumers will also say “congratulations” with gift cards (32 percent), apparel (11 percent), electronics (12 percent) and greeting cards (43 percent).

Total spending on graduation gifts is expected to top $4.6 billion this year, further illustrating that relatives and friends want to show their support and appreciation for the Class of 2013.

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<a href="http://blog.nrf.com/?p=17881/"><img src="http://b1d5ef2b997b30beaeea-54fe8a8caa40b033766a0d18c8a9e945.r89.cf1.rackcdn.com/NRFeastergraphic_1.jpg" alt="Easter shoppers go thrifty in 2013 – Infographic" title="Easter shoppers go thrifty in 2013 – Infographic" width="700" height="2100" </a>

According to BIGinsight’s 2013 Valentine’s Day spending survey, the average person planning to celebrate the holiday will spend $130.97 on flowers, candy, cards, and more; showing a slight increase from $126.03 last year.  Overall spending is expected to reach a total of $18.6 billion.

When it comes to gift ideas, the average man is willing to pull out all the stops for his sweetheart spending approximately $175.61 on jewelry, clothing, or an evening out while his counterpart will spend an estimated $88.78. But it’s about more than just your significant other, our survey shows that the average person will spend $26.46 on family members; $8.49 on friends; $6.00 on children’s classmates or teachers; $5.12 on coworkers; and $5.72 on furry four-legged friends.

Where will this year’s value-minded consumers be purchasing Valentine’s Day gifts? Many will be buying gifts at discount stores (39.6%) while others will be shopping at department stores (33.2%), specialty clothing stores (7.5%), floral shops (19.6%), specialty stores such as electronics or greeting card stores (22.9%), jewelry stores (11.2%) or catalogs (2.6%). The biggest change from last year is that 26.3% of shoppers are planning to purchase gifts online, up from last year’s 19.3%.

This Valentine’s Day shoppers want to show appreciation for their loved ones but they don’t want to break their piggy banks. NRF’s Senior Director of Media Relations Kathy Grannis explains what gifts consumers are being cautious about this year and why. Watch the segment below.

While we anxiously await NRF’s holiday sales announcement tomorrow, January 15, check out NRF’s recap of the most wonderful time of the year.

The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’s (RAMA) latest survey revealed the stand-out holiday commercials of the season – with some of American’s top brands showing up in full form.

Most of those polled agreed that Target has come out with some of the best commercials. It has been hard to miss the cheery carolers signing “you, you, you, you, you” in their “Gifts for You, Gifts for Me” commercial. In the clip, two very jolly individuals remind shoppers to check friends, family and themselves off their lists. If you’ve been reading the tea leaves of this holiday season, signs are pointing to a healthy return to gift-giving this year.

Macy’s holiday commercials have also resonated well this year. The iconic department store harnessed the power of “Bieber fever” to capture holiday shoppers’ attention with the “Wink, Nod and Smile” campaign.

Americans also put Old Navy on their favorite list, and I personally couldn’t agree more. Last summer, the brand brought back a few classic 90s characters from 90210 for their back-to-school campaign – a welcome sight for those that have missed Dylan and Brandon. For the holidays, Old Navy has reintroduced America to the Griswold Family. Nothing says Christmas better than the original cast members, reuniting over tree decorations, Johnny Mathis songs and cozy sweaters in the family’s living room. And speaking of classics, Old Navy also brought back two musical dynamos in one holiday commercial: New Kids on the Block’s Jordan Knight and Boyz II Men.

Knowing that not everyone will be keeping their holiday treasures, retailers are reminding people this year: “don’t forget the gift receipt!” As a person whose shopping list ranges from a nephew who has one hand on the video game controller all times – he might even sleep with it - to a sister who quite literally has everything she already needs, I am very thankful for gift receipts and all the many ways retailers are making returns easier.

Many companies now skip the print process and email their shoppers the receipt after the transaction is complete. For the digital junkies, this lets them keep an electronic record of all of their purchases. There are even some small retailers texting receipts to people who prefer to keep track of their purchases on their mobile device.

For those hard-to-buy-for friends and family, gift receipts are simply a must. According to NRF’s 2012 holiday returns survey, 62 percent of holiday shoppers say they give a gift receipt some or most of the time, about the same percent who said so last year – guaranteeing that loved ones get something they want. This holiday season, however, returning a gift may not necessarily be on the post holiday to-do list; more than 65 percent of those surveyed said they didn’t have to return any gifts last year, a bright outlook for this year.

Retailers strive to cater to their customers’ needs through a variety of methods, including their return policies. Some companies have to maintain a fairly strict return policy, perhaps because they see a lot of return fraud. While others have room to be a bit more lenient, especially during the holiday season. Overall the industry’s policies vary. Macy’s will let shoppers return items to any location at any time with a voucher, as long as the item is in new condition. Others like Toy ‘R’ Us and IKEA have a 90-day return policy if items are returned in their original packaging. Kohl’s lets shoppers return items at any time for any reason, with or without a receipt for a full exchange or store credit. When it comes to what people think about companies’ return policies, nine in 10 consumers agree that retailers’ return policies are fair.

Regardless of your gift-buying skills, a word to the wise this holiday season -don’t forget the receipt. It will really be appreciated when Aunt Betty wants to return the cookware you got her for a cashmere sweater of her choice.

Here are some tips for seamless post-holiday returns:

1. Make a list and check it twice: Many retailers have their return policies posted online or displayed within stores; gift-givers should make a list of where they shopped and make note of their return policies.
2. Receipts, the new stocking stuffer: Keep all receipts! While many retailers may allow consumers to make returns without an original or gift receipt, some don’t. To ensure a hassle-free return it’s still a great idea to present one.
3. Unwrap gifts carefully: Original packaging is a must for some retailers when it comes to returns – during the holidays and throughout the year.
4. Santa 2.0: While many gift-givers are in-store shoppers, some purchase gifts online. When making an online return it’s important to know who pays for return shipping and the exact location that returned items should be sent.
5. Patience is a virtue: The holidays are hectic for retailers and shoppers alike, having patience when returning merchandise keeps the stress levels down and holiday cheer high!

The items, ranging in price from $7.99 to $499.99 and consisting of clothing, handbags and home goods, were created by 24 Council of Fashion Designers of America designers and include the likes of Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, Alice & Olivia and Robert Rodriguez. A few weeks back Good Morning America gave shoppers a sneak peek at a few of the items, including a yoga mat in a black and white print from Diane Von Furstenburg that will retail for $49.99, a set of four printed dessert plates rimmed in 18K gold from Tracy Reese tagged at $39.99 and a little girl’s dress from Jason Wu (one of the First Lady’s favorite designers) priced at $59.99.

Target, which has had its share of success with curated designer collections in the past, will surely benefit from the added designer buzz this creates. Neiman Marcus hopes to see masses of people stream through the doors – some of whom never thought they could afford to purchase an item at the high-end retailer. But what really stands out for me is that the two retailers are using exclusive products – not discounts — to drive shopper traffic and lift spending.

I love that two retailers are collaborating. I love that they consider this a “once in a lifetime” occurrence and have made that clear to shoppers. I love that they’ve created retail excitement around product and made it accessible to so many. And I especially love that price is not the first thing they’re talking about.

Over the last few weeks retailers have unabashedly been playing the price card. Hoping to entice savvy shoppers, they’ve offered great deals on hot items and pulled out all the stops with one-of-a-kind bargains. Judging from the results reported to date, merchants have succeeded wildly.

Still, I’ve always believed that if a retailer wants to leave an impression in the shopper’s mind, offering 20, 30, even 40 percent off was not the best way to do it. Having exclusive merchandise and making a commitment to deliver services or a customer experience that is somehow memorable are means of building shopper loyalty without squeezing margins. Do you need to compete on price? Of course you do, but that can’t be the only hand you play.

Consider Toys “R” Us. Earlier this year the toy retailer announced Tabeo, an Android-powered 7-in. tablet designed specifically for kids — and exclusively for Toys “R” Us. With 50 free, pre-installed apps that were carefully selected to entertain and educate children while helping them explore the Internet, Toys “R” Us endeavors to grab a piece of the electronics market that is theirs alone. In the super price-sensitive toy arena, they stand out with exclusive product. It’s not a first for Toys “R” Us: The retailer dubbed the toy authority also sells rare and collector edition Barbie dolls, limited Lego lines and proprietary products.

Banana Republic, which has boosted sales through exclusive partnerships with Mad Men, designer Trina Turk and most recently the Anna Karenina-inspired collection based on a collaboration with the film’s costume designer, has benefited nicely from providing shoppers with items that stand out from the masses.

The Gap Inc. brand recently announced the 12 Days of Joy promotion intended to give customers “something extra” – and to keep the momentum going beyond Black Friday. Banana Republic will give away makeup from Benefit Cosmetics and a 20 percent discount voucher for a Virgin America flight. There is also an opportunity to enter a contest to win one of six Fiat 500 automobiles. It’s not all about exclusive product, but it’s also not all about discounting.

Another interesting strategy some retailers are using to entice shoppers – and keep discounting at arm’s length — is serving up food and drinks. Terrain, a division of Urban Outfitters, recently served lamb merquez and striped bass at two of its shops. JC Penney plans to tap into the entertainment value of food in its new prototype stores by replacing cash registers with coffee and juice bars – even a gelato shop. Banana Republic served hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at the introduction of the Anna Karenina collection, and Ann Taylor’s Loft division hosted Friday happy hours at the Rockefeller Center store in Manhattan during the summer.

Competing on price all the time is not sustainable. Exclusive products, services and enhanced customer experience are terrific ways to entice consumers and to create memories that will be warmly recalled and shared with friends and family.

“The retail community is pleased to see a settlement of the strike,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said this morning after striking union members at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach reached a tentative settlement with management and agreed to go back to work. “The nation’s largest port facility is now re-opened and operating and will hopefully be able to quickly recover from the shutdown.”

Shay said NRF’s attention will now shift to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, where longshoremen came within days of a September 30 strike deadline before agreeing to continue negotiations with a federal mediator through the end of December.

“We urge the parties to reach a final agreement before their contract extension ends,” Shay said. “Our economy cannot withstand another port disruption.”

The week-long LA/Long Beach strike came after most imported holiday merchandise had already arrived, but threatened retailers’ ability to restock as the season continues. An East Coast/Gulf Coast strike around New Year’s would not affect holiday sales, but could affect retailers bringing in items such as big screen televisions that are hot sellers around the Super Bowl, or spring merchandise such as patio furniture.

Settlement of the West Coast strike came after NRF sent a letter to President Obama last week asking him to use “all means necessary” to get workers back on the job. NRF followed up this week with a joint letter from close to 100 associations asking Obama to use his power under the Taft-Hartley Act to order strikers back to work. NRF also held daily conference calls for member companies throughout the strike and conducted numerous interviews with the news media to raise awareness of the impact the strike would have on the economy and job creation.

NRF Information

• NRF’s Holiday Headquarters was the most visited page throughout the month. Holiday HQ is a one-stop shop for all things holiday, putting the latest press releases, surveys, blog posts, and much more at your fingertips. Tips for budget-savvy shopping and the most frequently asked holiday questions are a few of the extra areas covered.
• The only resource hotter than the Black Friday weekend outlook was Black Friday weekend results released Sunday afternoon. The survey found that Black Friday weekend promotions enticed 247 million shoppers to visit stores and websites over the four-day span, a new record for the survey. A big trend – and growing tradition – this year was the number of shoppers who shopped Thanksgiving night. More than 35 million Americans visited stores and retailers’ websites on Thursday alone, up from 28 million in 2011.
• NRF’s Holiday Survival Kit in an interactive flip book format earned a top spot in the what’s hot list for the second straight month. This free, easy-to-read guide contains various historical data points – including holiday sales by sector and seasonal hiring statistics- as well as new research which examines the impact of the Presidential election and economic uncertainties on consumer confidence entering the holiday season.
• Enthusiasts were also tuned in to NRF’s second holiday consumer survey. Over half of Americans said they had already started making a dent in their holiday gift lists by early November, with fashion and apparel items and gift cards coming out on top as the most sought after gifts this season. Plans for discretionary spending are expected to be slightly higher in 2012, and more are eying the gift of jewelry than in years past. Slightly less than one quarter (22.5 percent) of shoppers will surprise friends and loved ones with jewelry, the highest amount since 2007.
• NRF’s announcement of the holiday’s hottest choices for gift cards rounds out the top five most clicked. Over 80 percent of Americans said they will purchase at least one gift card, with the 2012 average spend expected to reach $156 – a new high for the survey’s 10-year history. Department store and restaurant gift cards will be the most popular, and don’t overlook the growing popularity of mobile gift cards this year and in the years to come.

Top blog posts from Retail’s BIG Blog and Shop.org:

• Election 2012 in review: The impact on retail
• Retail’s BIG Show 2013 preview: Retail giants, expanded EXPO and a world peacekeeper
• To tweet or not to tweet: Twitter exec shares tips for customer engagement
• Holiday price matching wars: If you can’t beat ‘em, match ‘em
• The economics behind the ‘new norm’ of holiday shopping

Top retail news stories in NRF SmartBrief:

• How Obama’s reelection will affect the retail industry
• Nordstrom tops list of “happiest” retailers
• J.C. Penney to hand out coded buttons for holiday push
• Hot Topic tests teen lingerie concept
• Black Friday to come in waves at Wal-Mart

This year, it looks like shoppers are growing their shopping lists. According to NRF’s 2012 holiday spending survey released in October, a few signs point to a very healthy return to gift-giving:

• Looking to trim their budgets in 2008, 2009 and again in 2011, consumers this year plan to spend more on gifts for friends. The average person buying gifts for their ”besties” will spend $104, up from $97 last year.
• Pets, babysitters, postal workers and other community acquaintances stand to benefit more this year too. The average person will spend more than $63 on some of the most important people  – and pets – in their lives, up from $56 last year.
• And apparently there are a few co-workers out there who can expect something special this holiday season too – spending on them will grow to more than $73, up from $69 last year.

One type of gift that hasn’t changed in recent years is the “self gift.” Our research shows that millions of people plan to take advantage of retailers’ holiday sales and promotions to buy non-gift items for themselves or their family. Do you really think people are standing in line at midnight to buy discounted 55″ televisions for their children, or their parents? Highly unlikely.

This year:

• Six in 10 Americans say they will take advantage of the discounts over the next few weeks to purchase non-gift items.
• Spending on these “self gifts” will reach $140, the most in the survey’s 10-year history. In 2004, that figure was a mere $89.
• Over Thanksgiving weekend, eight in 10 holiday shoppers said they planned to scoop up some great online and in-store deals Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

So what are people buying this holiday season? A lot of everything.

In mid-November we asked people what kinds of gifts they had already bought. A few key items stand out:

• Gift cards reign as the most requested and the most purchased gift item. Shoppers today recognize that gift cards are both personal and practical. NRF’s gift card survey found that eight in 1o will buy at least one gift card, perfect for the six in 10 who requested them. And, over Thanksgiving weekend, nearly one-third of all shoppers said they bought gift cards.
• Toys are hot once again. The emergence of Furby and hot electronic kids toys may have helped boost the percent of people looking for toys this year – 45 percent plant to buy toys, up from 43 percent last year.
• Nearly six in 10 will buy clothes and accessories – the most since 2006. Retailers have created buzz this holiday season with their exclusive labels and product offerings, helping drive people straight to the cashmere sweaters, winter coats and other apparel fashions.

There may be no direct connection to whether or not gift-buying indicates how people really feel about their finances or the holiday season, but one thing is for sure this year – holiday shoppers are in the mood to celebrate with their loved ones, and a few perfect gifts could go a very long way in making this a holiday to remember.