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For many years, Kohl's has struggled with its merchandise assortment. Until recently, management emphasized private labels like Sonoma and Croft & Barrow and Jumping Beans. Now Kohl's is moving away from private brands toward national brands like Nike, Adidas, Keds, Levi, Juicy Couture and Izod, Elie Tahari for DesigNation, Elle, Gloria Vanderbilt, Disney, Arrow, Dockers, Carters and many others. The emphasis on exclusive lines such as Vera Wang, Jennifer Lopez, Dana Buchman and others will continue. 

eBay sent an email to members of its eBay Main Street initiative reminding them to vote and helping them find their voting information. The letter included a link to a page on the eBayMainStreet.com website where eBay said its industry "has much at stake in this election," and that elected officials have the ability to positively or negatively shape legislation affecting eBay and its members. eBay has weighed in on many issues affecting e-commerce and has years of experience marshalling its sellers to lobby on its behalf. 

Foot Locker CEO Ken Hicks is retiring and will be succeeded by Richard Johnson, the sneaker chain's COO. Hicks, 61, who joined the chain in 2009 from J.C. Penney, plans to step down on Dec. 1 and will continue as executive chairman through the annual shareholder meeting in May, the New York-based company said in a statement. Since arriving at Foot Locker, Hicks has revamped store layouts and merchandising, while closing weaker locations. Hicks also added more running footwear just as the category took off. 

J.C. Penney will open its stores at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving in search of an edge over Macy's and Kohl's. J.C. Penney said on Monday it would open its stores for Black Friday shopping at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, an hour earlier than its closest competitors Macy's, Kohl's and Sears, and three hours earlier than it did last year, in the latest upping of the ante in the holiday sales wars. It's easy to see why Penney would want to gain an edge on its rivals in what promises to be a bruising, super-promotional holiday season.

Should Target put "Alex," the Frisco, Texas, kid getting a lot of Twitter love because of his Bieberish mug and the pure randomness of the internet, in an actual ad campaign? "Why not?" answered Will McInnes, chief marketing officer of Brandwatch. "Social media is a powerful and direct avenue to consumers. Given the velocity and reach of the #AlexFromTarget hashtag, there are a number of marketing and ad campaigns that Target could execute. For example: store appearances by Alex or Alex's picks for clothing and seasonal items. Target could even use Alex to showcase its corporate culture."

Dollar General said Friday that it's extended its hostile bid for Matthews, N.C.-based Family Dollar until Dec. 31. The $80 per share, all-cash bid had been set to expire at the end of the day Friday. Family Dollar has rebuffed Dollar General's advances, with the company's board of directors turning down Dollar General's bids so far. Instead, Family Dollar's board wants to complete a previously announced acquisition by rival discount retailer Dollar Tree, which the companies agreed to in July. Family Dollar shareholders are set to vote on the Dollar Tree deal Dec. 11 in Charlotte. 

Environmental groups are trying to put a scare into Lowe's this Halloween. Locations of the home improvement store across the U.S. and Canada have been targeted this week with protests and petitions that ask it to not be a "little shop of horrors" for bees. The campaign, spearheaded by Friends of the Earth, is designed to get Lowe's to eliminate products and plants that are treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, which some consider harmful to bees. The world's bee population has been dying by the billions in recent years, and some experts point to pesticide use as a major contributing factor. 

Terry J. Lundgren, the chief executive of Macy's, strode through the women's shoe department of the company's flagship store in Manhattan's Herald Square, determined to find a bargain. With the lean build of an athlete and the immaculately coifed gray hair of a television anchor, Mr. Lundgren cased the floor and dashed over to a display table of classic shoes, aimed at women in office jobs. "Look at this great-looking boot for $69!" he exclaimed, holding out an unadorned black boot with a low heel.

Retailers push for ever-earlier shopping on Thanksgiving Day continues. Joining the still-swelling wave, Kohl's said Thursday that its stores will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, two hours earlier than last year. That puts the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based chain on even footing with Macy's, which already announced a 6 p.m. start to the pre-Black Friday shopping extravaganza. Macy's opened at 8 p.m. last year. Other big retailers such as Target and Sears have yet to disclose their plans, but Anne Brouwer, senior partner with Chicago retail consultant McMillanDoolittle, said she expects more announcements of openings at 6, or earlier.

Wal-Mart is doing whatever it takes to rope in holiday shoppers however they want to buy. For the first time, Wal-Mart is offering free shipping on what it considers the season's top 100 hottest gifts, from board games to items related to Disney's hit film "Frozen," starting Saturday. The move comes as rival Target began offering free shipping on all items, a program that started in late October and will last through Dec. 20. Wal-Mart is also planning to offer discounts on more than 20,000 items on a broad range of products, starting Saturday.