The holiday season usually brings an overload of news stories with forecasts, trends and advice for retailers and customers alike. A reporter at the The Mercury News in San Jose, Calif., assembled some of the latest data nuggets from industry experts. It’s fun to see if you agree or disagree with them.

For example: “…metallic is out and warmer colors are in…merchants are turning to palettes that contain more red, orange, brown, green and yellow in order to create cozier environments. Some stores are adding carpeting and even applying sound-absorption techniques.” I agree. Nothing wrong with cozy. Sound-absorption materials can get pricey, though. Maybe if you’re shop is next to an adventure-sports store with a cranked-up sound system.

“…ages 18-29, born 1978 to 1989 are much more interested than other generations in having retailers provide valet parking.” If it’s OK with your landlord, local parking lot owners, and local municipal codes, I say go for it. Anything you can do to get them through your front door is worth the cost.

“…the ‘Silent/GI Generation’ (62 and older, 1900-1945) prefers shopping at Wal-Mart to other stores and do less holiday shopping on Black Friday than other generations.” That’s good to know. If your customers fit that demographic, lure them in with specials early in the day or other times your store isn’t as busy as it could be.

“…84 percent of consumers said they wouldn’t be completing their Christmas shopping until either two weeks before the holiday, one week before or…Dec. 24.” Those last two weeks always deliver a crush of consumers. Entice them in with late-shopper bargains, coupons, emails, phone calls, etc. Make it a point to reward to their tardy habits.

You can find this kind of advice all over the Internet. Make sure it’s from credible sources before you apply it to your needs. And it’s not too early to start looking for data on post-Christmas sales as well. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, keep your retail elves busy.