• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, September 17, 2024

Target, Best Buy, and Amazon are shaking up their promotional calendars, hoping that special deals and events will make consumers rethink their holiday plans.

Target just announced its largest-ever holiday assortment and says it will host a Target Circle Week from October 6 to 12, offering special deals to loyalty members. It plans to stock hundreds of new toy and décor items, up 50% from last year.

In a nod to consumers concerned about their family finances, the Minneapolis-based retailer is fiercely focused on value. Their deal section in the front of stores, Bullseye’s Playground, will offer 50 gift items priced at $5 and half of all toy items cost $20 or less.

Beginning November 1, Target also intends to bring back the Deal of the Day.

The company intends to hire 100,000 seasonal elves to ease the shopping journey.

Target is also getting its green on for the Thanksgiving release of “Wicked,” partnering with Universal Pictures for in-store activations and exclusive themed merchandise.

Marks & Spencer items will be on Target's shelves again, too, including an expanded assortment from the British retailer, which will now include new home items.

And Target's spoke-dog Bullseye himself is getting a larger role this year, with an assortment of toys, ornaments and dog items.

Best Buy is also introducing a new holiday calendar of sales that starts even earlier than Target – September 27 – with an event for members of its loyalty program. It is giving members who spend $500 a $50 reward certificate to use on a future Best Buy purchase.

Best Buy, also headquartered in Minneapolis, kicks off an Apple Trade-Up event on September 30, where consumers can turn in old Apple Watches, iPhones, MacBooks and iPads for discounts on new versions.

With gaming and TV specials, Best Buy hopes it can encourage America to snap out of its electronics doldrums, hurrying people along in a stalled replacement cycle that has weighed on the company's sales for several years.

Amazon is also piling on the holiday promotions and announced it will bring back Prime Big Deal Days on October 8 and 9.

Those offers include Halloween items and winter holidays, with a curated shop starring gifts from 35 categories. And it plans to cut as much as 40% off some winter fashion items.