Strategy

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl's Corp. reported late Wednesday it earned $194 million in the quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with nearly identical net income of $193 million in the year-ago period. The retailer cited rising costs for the flat profit performance.

Revenue rose 4.2% to $4.22 billion, just missing Wall Street expectations of $4.3 billion.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Heating up the holiday retailing war, Wal-Mart Stores announced Thursday that it will offer free shipping on nearly 60,000 online items -- with no minimum purchase requirement.

Wal-Mart's free shipping offer, which includes most electronics, jewelry and toys, will run through Dec. 20.

According to Steve Nave, senior VP and general manager of Walmart.com, Walmart is trying to help its cost-conscious shoppers "save money so they can bring home more for less this holiday season."
 

Chelmsford, Mass. -- A report released by workforce management solution-provider Kronos found that holiday hiring levels are lagging behind 2009 numbers.

According to the Kronos Retail Labor Index, which analyzes demand and supply sides of the labor market within the U.S. retail sector, the index decreased in October to 3%, down 16% from the September 2010 level of 3.6%. (A level of 3% means that for every 100 applications received, three hirings occurred).

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said late Wednesday it is recommending that shareholders do not endorse an unsolicited offer from TRC Capital Corp. to buy up to 3 million shares of the drugstore chain.

The retailer said it received an offer from TRC on Nov. 3. The offer represents 0.3% of Walgreen’s outstanding stock.

Walgreen said it doesn't endorse the "mini-tender offer," because it is set at a price below the current market price for the company's shares and is subject to numerous conditions.