By Daniel Roberts, reporter

Despite the weak economy, there's cause for cautious optimism this holiday season, with sales expected to show single-digit increases over last year. Businesses like Lord & Taylor are not only relying on e-commerce but also ramping up efforts in m-commerce (mobile). Others are exploring t-commerce (digital-television shopping).

The Manhattan studio of Spaeth Design, a window display creator; the Santa at top is used at Lord & Taylor, which has been displaying mechanical holiday windows for 73 years.

22%: Consumers who say they will shop at department stores this holiday season, according to NPD Group. That is down from 25% in 2009, which is, in turn, down from 26% in 2008.

$52 billion: The amount Americans will spend online in November and December, predicts Forrester Research -- up 16% over 2009.

150,900: Number of retail jobs added in October (much of it holiday hiring). That's three times more than October 2009, according to Challenger Gray & Christmas.