This year’s holiday shopping season, the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas, will be six days shorter than last year’s. That, coupled with an early start to Hanukkah, has malls and retailers moving up their marketing calendars.

John Stanley shares a few strategies on how to drive sales past the busy December holiday season.

Giant red shoe installation and celebrity appearance among highlights of UK center’s style extravaganza.

The Academy bumps up its sales with a “24 Days of Christmas” contest and made-for-adults Sexy Mr. and Mrs. Santa cutouts.

Bluewater turns on the magic with a holiday program inspired by the Nutcracker ballet.

The UK’s Trafford Centre promotes beauty category via annual theatrical events.

Shane Hansraj won himself a $350,000 home. That’s not a bad reward for taking the time to drop by his local mall and tour a new residential development.

Polo Park among Canadian centers working hard to keep their deal-seeking customers shopping at home, instead of heading south on Black Friday.

Shopping crawls, cash mobs part of mounting evidence that shoppers, not hired promoters, are now at the retail marketing helm.

Union Square draws its revenues from a small catchment, but it managed to increase productivity by digging a little deeper into shoppers’ pockets.