Union Square Booth in Manhattan and Naughty & Nice Campaign will be centerpiece of Consumer Reports' Annual Holiday Public Education Campaign

YONKERS, N.Y., Nov. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports, the world's largest independent product-testing organization, is bringing the best of its holiday shopping advice, expert product reviews and its influential Naughty & Nice Holiday List to the Holiday Market at Union Square. This is the first time that Consumer Reports has had a booth at the popular holiday market in downtown New York City, now in its 18^th year. The booth marks a homecoming of sorts for Consumer Reports, which had offices in Union Square from 1936 to 1954.

To kick off the holiday activities at the booth, Consumer Reports will be shining a spotlight on the best and worst consumer policies from retailers and service providers as part of its third annual Naughty and Nice Holiday List. First introduced in 2010 as part of an ongoing public-education campaign, the Naughty & Nice list looks at the good and not-so-good shopping and customer service policies and the companies behind them. It's based on input from reporters and editors at Consumer Reports who cover shopping, travel, hospitality and telecommunications.

For the first time, Consumer Reports will be offering shoppers an opportunity to experience its holiday content and interact with experts through this in-person, hands-on event at Union Square. Visitors to the booth will have the chance to submit their own retailer "Naughty" and "Nice" list and chat with Consumer Reports experts about everything from how to taste-test chocolate to taking better holiday pictures on smart phones.

"Consumer Reports was born 76 years ago, just off Union Square," said Ken Weine, Vice President of Communications and Branding at Consumer Reports. "We have a rich tradition of giving consumers a voice, especially during the high-spending holiday-shopping season. The Holiday Market at Union Square is the perfect place to hear from New Yorkers on how they are being treated at stores and online."

Shoppers who visit the Consumer Reports booth and complete a short survey or Tweet their naughty or nice shopping story to #CRNaughtyNice will receive a free, reusable shopping bag. In addition, visitors will receive an access code to ConsumerReports.org, providing a one-day free pass to research all their big ticket product needs.

Visitors can stop by the Consumer Reports booth at the Holiday Market at Union Square from November 16 to December 24. (The market will be closed Thanksgiving Day.)

Consumer Reports is the world's largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

About the Holiday Market at Union Square:

The Holiday Market at Union Square is designed in the tradition of the Northern European holiday market, familiar in cities from Copenhagen to Munich. Each December the public squares and piazzas of these European capitals are filled with colorful market booths selling holiday gifts from around the world. These markets are gathering places for meeting, browsing and shopping—UrbanSpace brings the same lively environment to New York City.

The Market's position at the intersection of Park Avenue South, Broadway, 14th Street, and Union Square West makes it highly visible to many thousands of New Yorkers—after dark the booths glow from the interior lighting and holiday decorations.

The Holiday Market at Union Square features a broad range of gift categories including decorative home, children's toys & apparel, stationary, books & prints, men's & women's apparel, men's & women's accessories, jewelry, kitchen & garden items, packaged candy & treats, food & beverages to be enjoyed on-site, and more.

NOVEMBER 2012

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SOURCE Consumer Reports