Yahoo Shopping makes a snowy splash in Times Square

Just as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade shows Santa ending his sleigh ride by walking into the flagship Macy’s Herald Square store in Manhattan, Yahoo Inc. is using a more Internet-savvy Santa to introduce holiday shoppers to its Yahoo Shopping portal.

On Black Friday, traditionally the kick-off of the holiday shopping season, Yahoo offered consumers a look inside Yahoo Shopping in an interactive “snow globe” big enough for the Yahoo Comparison Shopping Santa and a team of elves to show holiday shoppers how to shop on YahooShopping.com, which provides gift suggestions for several types of gift recipients, such as a Techie Mom, Gadget Guru Dad, Fashionista Sister or Trendy Brother. The globe’s interior space contained several wireless Internet kiosks that let consumers shop online and e-mail to friends and family links to digital photos taken on site with Santa and posted on a Yahoo web site.

"This event emphasizes the fun, ease and ultimate convenience of online shopping, whether people start shopping now or wait until the last minute," said Rob Solomon, vice president and general manager of Yahoo Shopping.