Retail

Englewood, Colo. -- Shopkick has partnered with Sports Authority. All Shopkick users will earn "kicks" just for walking in, browsing special offers throughout the store, scanning products and making purchases at Sports Authority store locations.

“We are excited to partner with Shopkick nationwide,” said Mike E. Foss, CEO of Sports Authority. “Their innovative application engages our customers in a new and compelling way, offering added benefit to shop at Sports Authority.”

Sears Holdings has elected law firm executive Cesar Alvarez to its board of directors.

Alvarez is co-chairman of the international law firm Greenburg Traurig, which he joined in 1973. Before his appointment as chairman, he served as executive chairman for more than three years and as its CEO for 13 years, starting in 1997.

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.

Rite Aid modestly increased its full year sales forecast following the release of third quarter results and said it will aggressively expand its “Wellness” format as it looks to drive greater growth in 2014.

Los Angeles – Beauty, cosmetics and fragrance stores should experience 2.7% growth in sales to $13.1 billion during 2013. Industry revenue is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.8% from 2008 to 2013, according to business intelligence firm IbisWorld.

Armonk, N.Y. -- In five years, buying local will beat online. That is one of five predictions that appear on IBM’s eight annual “IBM 5 in 5” forecast, which the company describes as a list of innovations that have the potential to change the way people work, live and interact during the next five years.

New York -- TXT e-solutions, a leading provider of integrated and collaborative planning solutions, today announced that European footwear brand Camper, has successfully implemented TXT e-solutions’ integrated retail planning software to support its entire retail planning cycle as it continues to expand both online and internationally.

Fort Myers, Fla. – Chico’s FAS repurchased approximately 6.7 million shares of its common stock, for approximately $125 million, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, completing all but $55 million of its existing share repurchase authorization. The Chico’s board of directors has cancelled the remainder of its March 2013 share repurchase program and approved a new $300 million share repurchase authorization for the company's common stock.