• Washington Post, Friday, July 23, 2010 10:02 AM

Ylan Q. Mui reports that several major retailers are taking an advance on the Christmas spirit by holding Black Friday-style sales that they hope will stimulate consumer spending. Toys R Us has had daily mystery discounts during the week and will have bonus promotions today and tomorrow, for example. Target's sale, called "Back in Black Friday," features about 500 items on sale on its Web site for 24 hours at an average of 40% off.

C. Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, says his surveys show only about 5% to 7% of consumers shop for Christmas gifts throughout the year and that the campaigns are a tactic to lure customers into stores during a slow month.

"It's really a kind of fun and playful way to bring the joy of the holidays and the value proposition of the holidays ... back into people's minds when they least expect it," says Greg Ahearn, svp of marketing and e-commerce for Toys R Us

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