Events

New York – LLBean.com provided the highest-rated customer service of all major online retailers during the month of November 2013. According to the Stella Monthly Ranking from the StellaService customer service analysis firm, L.L. Bean was ranked number one for overall customer service and also in the email customer service area.

SierraTradingPost.com took top honors for phone customer service, Sears.com had the highest ranked shipping customer service and Bloomingdales.com has the best returns customer service.

Hickory Farms has launched a new website featuring faster page load times, easier navigation and improved search and checkout functions. Customers can shop on-the-go with the site's mobile- and tablet-friendly design.

In addition, running through Christmas Eve, customers can participate in Hickory Farms' Holiday Hunt Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of six daily instant prizes and be entered to win a $2,500 Visa gift card. Consumers can visit the Hickory Farms Facebook page daily to find the clue for that day's instant prize, which they will find on HickoryFarms.com.

New York -- Beginning on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 a.m., 37 Macy’s stores in select cities across the country including Macy’s Herald Square in New York City; Union Square in San Francisco; and State Street in Chicago, will stay open overnight for four days in a row of non-stop shopping until Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 6 p.m.

In addition to the 24-hour stores, mostly all stores nationwide, except furniture galleries and select locations, will offer extended hours each night until 2 a.m. through Dec. 23.

For peanut butter cup lovers, the New Year will mark not only a fresh start but also a chance to dig into Butterfinger's latest confection. Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups, which offer a fresh spin on the classic peanut butter and chocolate combo, are now shipping to stores nationwide and will be available beginning in January.

East Rutherford, N.J. -- In partnership with travel retailer Hudson Group, leading lingerie and beauty retailer Victoria's Secret has opened a new Beauty & Accessories store in John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 4. The new store will focus on a range of beauty products and accessories.

Faced with unwavering demand for its brand of food retailing and an abundance of potential locations, Whole Foods executives on Tuesday increased their forecast for U.S. store growth to 1,200 locations from 1,000.

Seattle – Starbucks anticipates record purchases and activations of Starbucks cards on Thursday, Dec. 19. Last year, more than 2 million Starbucks cards were purchased in the U.S. and Canada on the Thursday before Christmas, representing nearly 1,500 cards purchased per minute in the U.S. and Canada.

Akron, Ohio -- Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry officially opened its 200th location in Carle Place, N.Y., at the Carle Place Commons Center. The store includes a complementary refreshment area, a children’s play area and a full-service custom jewelry design and repair center, which will custom mount, clean and repair most jewelry.