• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, November 10, 2010

TV ads, called "Who's on your list?," are scheduled to air beginning next week on major TV and cable networks, and an additional spot will promote its Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree online initiative. The Plano, Tex.-based retailer will also use outdoor, print, digital and direct mail, as well as mobile and social media marketing.

It's also brushing up its tech offerings, with its mobile initiative adding new apps for iPhones, iPads, and Android, as well as the "check in" feature from Foursquare and Facebook Deals via Facebook Places. In addition to mobile couponing, it says its program with iAd will launch an interactive ad when iPhone and iPod Touch customers use an app on their device. Online offerings include free ship-to-store deals, as well as free home shipping for purchases of $69 or more.

And the company, which opened its first Manhattan store just a year ago, says it has also come up with a campaign just for New Yorkers, with outdoor ads inviting Gothamites to "Jingle all the way to 33rd & 6th," and offering "Bright lights, merry savings." The ads ask shoppers to text the retailer, and in the weeks leading up to the holiday, it says it will feature JCP NYC branding with a JCPCA$H special offer on New York Metro Transit Authority cards.

The company is even giving a boost to the traditional gift card, packaging it as a stocking stuffer with little extras -- for instance, you can buy a Snowman gift card that comes with floam, so the recipient can make a little snowman.

Overall, the company says it is focusing on affordability, and "a strong promotional calendar." Experts have been predicting intense promotional activity, as mid-tier retailers do everything they can to entice shoppers to start spending.

Kohl's, for example, is also stressing great deals in its campaign, themed "Give, save and be merry."

And Target just unleashed online offers of up to 50% off on daily deals, including "Total Toy Tuesdays" and "Mega Merry Mondays." The Minneapolis-based retailer also says it is selling live trees online for the first time; guests can preorder now and get trees shipped for free beginning Nov. 15, priced from $80 to $160.