51.   The company continues to face disappointing overall sales, lowered gross margins and vexing competitors as it moves toward the crucial Christmas selling season.

52.   The deficit with China alone set a record as a wave of Chinese-made toys arrived for the holiday selling season.

53.   The day after Thanksgiving launches the official holiday selling season.

54.   The holiday selling season is the busiest and most profitable time of the year for retailers.

55.   The holiday selling season, officially beginning the day after Thanksgiving, is the most profitable period for retailers.

56.   The holidays are the peak selling season for lottery tickets, so state lotteries look for ways to package their ticket in the most appealing way, said Schaefer.

57.   The industry is bracing for a lean Christmas selling season for the second year in a row.

58.   The industry suffered from a bleak holiday selling season.

59.   The shortened selling season is expected to be intense, with retailers trying to pack in as much business as possible.

60.   The spring selling season is just one facet of that trend.