Macy's has teamed with Toys "R" Us for a unique holiday season partnership.The department store giant enlisted the toy chain to set up Toys "R" Us Express shops in 24 major-market locations in California, Florida, Illinois, New York and other states. Tucked away in the corner of kid's departments, the leased pop-up shops average approximately 1,500 square feet and stock products from the Toys "R" Us "Holiday Hot Toy List" (see "Toys "R" Us Just Can't Wait …") and other popular items. The seasonal shops previously have been deployed only in malls. (See "Toys "R" Us Slows Down …" in Related Articles.)Operated by Toys "R" Us, the boutiques are identified by ceiling and rack signs and boast a dedicated checkout. They will remain in operation for roughly three months, with the end-date planned for Jan. 15, 2013. The partners have indicated that the concept may be expanded in the future.Macy's already has announced a similar partnership with Finish Line. In spring 2013, Finish Line will begin opening footwear departments that also will carry sports apparel and accessories, with a full rollout to 450 Macy's stores expected by fall 2014. Finish Line also will manage the athletic assortment and inventory at some 225 additional Macy's stores that carry footwear, although it won't provide staffing or have branding opportunities in those locations.The partners expect the deal to boost Finish Line's sales by $250 million to $350 million annually. The shoe retailer — which currently operates 638 mostly mall-based U.S. stores, compared with Macy's' 840 sites — is paying a licensing fee for the space."We believe the enhanced footwear assortment [Finish Line] will bring to our customers at every full-line Macy's store nationwide, as well as on macys.com, complements our rapidly developing offering of activewear merchandise," Macy's chief merchandising officer Jeff Gennette said in a media release.