BOSTON, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday may be behind us, but with two weeks left in the holiday season, companies still need to find ways to attract the hearts and wallets of holiday shoppers. As holiday marketing reaches a crescendo, companies are turning to cause marketing to differentiate and prove their commitments to social and environmental issues.

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Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Americans expect companies to support causes during the holiday season and just as many would purchase a product that supports a cause over one that does not, according to the 2012 Cone Communications Holiday Trend Tracker. This holiday cheer extends to feelings of company goodwill, as 75 percent of Americans say they feel better about a company that supports a cause during the holidays.

Deck the Aisles with Holiday Cause Marketing
Companies are heeding the consumer demand for doing good with an abundance of holiday-related cause marketing campaigns hitting stores during the past few weeks. A sample of holiday cause marketing themes include:


    --  Holiday Heritage - Consumers welcomed the return of many tried-and-true
        campaigns making long-standing commitments to important causes. St.
        Jude's "Thanks and Giving" program is running 10 years strong with the
        help of more than 50 corporate partners, while Toys "R" Us and the
        Marine Toys for Tots Foundation's annual holiday toy drive is now
        entering its ninth year, again with the help of Shaquille O'Neal.
    --  Social Good Gifts - This holiday season brought an influx of gifts that
        have a social purpose and impact at their core. Crate & Barrel's "A
        World of Good" effort supports local artisans across the world with
        special holiday ornaments, while UNICEF partnered with a number of
        companies to support its "Holiday Gifts That Give Back" campaign. From
        Ikea's plush toys to a $1,200 Gucci tote bag, consumers can feel good
        knowing their money is going to a worthy cause.
    --  High-End Holiday - Upscale retailers are getting in the giving spirit
        with campaigns that are both stylish and fanciful. Neiman Marcus is
        adding a new component to its famous Christmas Book filled with luxury
        wonders by donating a portion of each fantasy gift to charity as part of
        its "Heart of Neiman Marcus" campaign.  Luxury retailer Barney's has
        partnered with Jay-Z to launch the Shawn Carter Collection as part of "A
        New York Holiday." Sales from the new clothing line will benefit the
        Shawn Carter Foundation.
    --  One-Stop Cause Shop - Online retailers are now also embracing the
        opportunity and are presenting consumers with turn-key cause
        activations. Amazon recently launched Amazon Smile, which activates a
        0.5% donation to charity for each purchase, while KMART makes it simple
        to add donation items to online carts using the "Shop Your Way Charity
        Gift Registry" to benefit Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.

Holiday Cause Marketing Experts Available for Media Interviews
 For more holiday cause marketing examples, a copy of the 2012 Cone Communications Holiday Trend Tracker fact sheet or to speak with a cause marketing expert, please contact Whitney Dailey, wdailey@conecomm.com, 617-939-8376.

About Cone Communications
Cone Communications (www.conecomm.com) is a public relations and marketing agency known for igniting brands with high-impact strategies and programs based in deep insights, unique subject matter expertise and innovation. Focusing on key areas such as consumer product media relations, social media, cause marketing, corporate social responsibility, nonprofit marketing, corporate communications and crisis prevention/management - the agency is positioned to help clients achieve both business and societal outcomes. Cone Communications is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency Services
Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

SOURCE Cone Communications