Strategy won’t win Holiday 2026. Execution will.
The marketing campaigns are set and the merchandising plans are approved. What separates the winners this holiday is whether stores can execute those plans, fast and flawlessly, across thousands of daily decisions. As the store takes on fulfillment, returns and even retail media alongside traditional selling, the line between online and in-store keeps blurring, and the pressure on frontline teams keeps rising.
This special report breaks down the people, processes and technology behind successful holiday execution. Drawing on insights from Kearney, GlobalData and Circana, plus real-world examples from Target, Dollar General and The Home Depot, it shows how leading retailers plan to turn holiday plans into results.
What You’ll Learn
- Staffing and AI tools: How retailers are rethinking store roles and using AI to prioritize tasks, schedule labor and speed up product lookups
- Inventory strategy: How to balance caution against uncertain demand with a longer holiday calendar, and why 360-degree inventory visibility matters
- Omnichannel fulfillment: How Target, Dollar General and The Home Depot use same-day delivery, pickup and ship-from-store to compete
- Store experience design: How to serve two very different holiday shoppers, those who know exactly what they want and those who want advice and inspiration
- Returns prevention: How AI-powered recommendations and better product content cut returns before they happen
Download your copy of this new special report now.
