Content about Cook County, Illinois

May 9, 2013

Sears Holdings announced that Jeff Balagna will join the company as executive VP and CIO.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Jeff Balagna will join the company as executive VP and CIO. In his new role, Balagna who most recently served as CIO at Eli Lilly, will be responsible for all technology and infrastructure initiatives for the company in its support centers and in-store.
   

April 1, 2013

An SEC filing revealed that Sears Holdings Corp. former CEO Louis D’Ambrosio, who stepped down in February citing family health issues, saw his total compensation package shrink nearly 90% from the prior year.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- An SEC filing on Thursday revealed that Sears Holdings Corp. former CEO Louis D’Ambrosio, who stepped down in February citing family health issues, saw his total compensation package shrink nearly 90% from the prior year.

According to the proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sears said D’Ambrosio's salary rose to $1 million in 2012 from $930,769 in 2011. However, the value of his perks, such as corporate housing and travel, shrank to $278,741 from $852,037 in 2011.
 

March 21, 2013

Eddie Lampert, chairman of Sears Holding Corp., has signed a contract to remain as CEO of the retail company at a salary of $1 per year, the Associated Press reported.

New York -- Eddie Lampert, chairman of Sears Holding Corp., has signed a contract to remain as CEO of the retail company at a salary of $1 per year, the Associated Press reported. Sears announced in January that Lampert would take over as CEO after Louis J. D'Ambrosio stepped down due to family health issues.
    
Lampert’s new contract is effective Feb. 1, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. Lampert also has the opportunity for a bonus of up to $2 million in cash or stock and up to $4.5 million in stock per year.

March 15, 2013

Is it just me, or does it seem like the past two months or so have seen an unusually high level of turnover at the top? It's gotten so that you need a scorecard to keep up with all the comings and goings, as chief executives are forced out, jump ship, retire or move on.

This year's changing of the guard is bittersweet because it includes the retirement of two veteran retailers, Steve Burd of Safeway and Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

February 28, 2013

Sears Holding Corp. said its net loss for the quarter ended on Feb. 2 narrowed to $489 million from $2.4 billion a year earlier.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holding Corp. said its net loss for the quarter ended on Feb. 2 narrowed to $489 million from $2.4 billion a year earlier. Total costs dropped 2.2% to $12.88 billion in the fourth quarter.

Revenue declined 1.8% to $12.26 billion, but beat analysts' average estimate of $11.77 billion.

Sears results came weeks after the company’s chairman and largest shareholder, Edward Lampert, took the reins as CEO in the wake of the departure of Louis D'Ambrosio, who resigned for a family-related health problem.

February 27, 2013

Sears Canada Inc. reported that profit for the fourth quarter dipped 3% to $38.8 million on weakened hardware and electronics sales.

Toronto -- Sears Canada Inc. reported Wednesday that profit for the fourth quarter dipped 3% to $38.8 million on weakened hardware and electronics sales.

Revenue fell 5% to$1.25 billion in the period, and same-store sales dropped 3.8%.

Parent Sears Holdings Corp., which cut its stake in Sears Canada from 90% to 51% last year, said in January that Sears Canada's fourth quarter adjusted earnings would fall by about half.

 

January 29, 2013

ECOtality said that it has expanded its current relationship with Sears Holdings Corp. by unveiling the Blink Direct Current Fast Charger stations at Sears stores in Tennessee and Arizona.

San Francisco -- ECOtality said Tuesday that it has expanded its current relationship with Sears Holdings Corp. by unveiling the Blink Direct Current Fast Charger stations at Sears stores in Tennessee and Arizona.

The stations enable Sears customers to charge an electric vehicle battery up to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes.

January 8, 2013

In a surprise move, Sears Holdings Corp. announced that CEO Louis J. D'Ambrosio will step down as CEO, effective Feb. 2, for family health reasons.

New York -- In a surprise move, Sears Holdings Corp. announced that CEO Louis J. D'Ambrosio will step down as CEO, effective Feb. 2, for family health reasons. D'Ambrosio will be replaced by the company's chairman and its largest shareholder, Edward Lampert.

November 2, 2012

Sears Holdings Corp. said it has named Ryan Vero senior VP and president, Grocery, Drug and Pharmacy.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Friday it has named Ryan Vero senior VP and president, Grocery, Drug and Pharmacy.

Vero most recently served as the executive VP and chief merchandising/marketing officer for OfficeMax. He spend 17 years with the office supply retailer and was most recently responsible for merchandising, marketing, new channels, and e-commerce business, in addition to global sourcing, private brands, product development and pricing.
 

November 1, 2012

Sears Holdings announced that both Sears and Kmart stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that both Sears and Kmart stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day. The company said its made the decision based in part on feedback from members of its Shop Your Way loyalty program, who sought more flexible Black Friday in-store shopping times and eagerness to shop doorbuster deals.

October 12, 2012

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is set to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market after Sears Holdings Corp. completed a spin-off transaction of the home appliances, hardware, tools and garden equipment retailer.

New York -- Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is set to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on Friday after Sears Holdings Corp. completed a spin-off transaction of the home appliances, hardware, tools and garden equipment retailer.

Sears Holdings received $446.5 million in proceeds in the transaction, including a $100 million dividend paid by Sears Hometown prior to the separation and about $347 million from a rights offering.

 

October 11, 2012

Sears Holdings received a SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being an industryleader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings received a SmartWay  Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being an industryleader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

In addition, 100% of Sears Holdings more than 20+ freight carriers are SmartWay program partners as well.

October 9, 2012

Sears Holdings Corp., which in February announced it would spin off its Hometown and Outlet businesses as a separate publicly traded entity, said it expects to receive about $446.5 million in gross proceeds from an offering tied to the spinoffs.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp., which in February announced it would spin off its Hometown and Outlet businesses as a separate publicly traded entity, said Tuesday it expects to receive about $446.5 million in gross proceeds from an offering tied to the spinoffs.

The offering of rights to purchase shares of the spinoff debuted on the Nasdaq under the "SHOSR" ticker symbol in September. According to Sears, the rights offering expired on Monday; preliminary results show that more than 95% of the options were exercised.

October 8, 2012

Kmart and Sears are gearing up for the holiday shopping season with the elimination of layaway service fees, a new layaway home delivery service and an enhanced in-store mobile experience.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Kmart and Sears are gearing up for the holiday shopping season with the elimination of layaway service fees, a new layaway home delivery service and an enhanced in-store mobile experience.

October 3, 2012

Sears Holdings Corp. said Wednesday that its namesake and Kmart stores will offer ship-to-home delivery for items purchased through online layaway.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Wednesday that its namesake and Kmart stores will offer ship-to-home delivery for items purchased through online layaway.

The new service, which comes at a time when many major retailers are amping up shopper-centric programs for the holiday selling season, is also available on store kiosks, said Sears, enabling customers to bypass the layaway line and select, purchase and have items delivered directly to their homes.

Both retailers will launch the service on Nov. 7.

 

September 28, 2012

Sears Holdings Corp. strengthened its environmental commitment with the rollout of 27 new Roush CleanTech Ford E-250 cargo vans fueled by propane autogas, to be deployed in the Sears Home Services fleet in Seattle for in-home service and repair visits.

Seattle -- Sears Holdings Corp. strengthened its environmental commitment with the rollout of 27 new Roush CleanTech Ford E-250 cargo vans fueled by propane autogas, to be deployed in the Sears Home Services fleet in Seattle for in-home service and repair visits.

September 14, 2012

Sears Holdings disclosed in a regulatory filing that "because we believe that the company has substantial liquidity and financial flexibility," the company has elected to contribute an additional $203 million to its domestic pension plan on Sept. 14, after which the plan will be 80% funded under applicable law.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings disclosed in a regulatory filing that "because we believe that the company has substantial liquidity and financial flexibility," the company has elected to contribute an additional $203 million to its domestic pension plan on Sept. 14, after which the plan will be 80% funded under applicable law.

September 7, 2012

Sears Holdings Corp. said that both its Sears and Kmart banners would waive layaway fees for the holidays, allowing shoppers to open interest-free pay-over-time programs at both stores and online with no customary initial fees.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Friday that both its Sears and Kmart banners would waive layaway fees for the holidays, allowing shoppers to open interest-free pay-over-time programs at both stores and online with no customary initial fees. Kmart’s program will run through Nov. 17, but Sears Holdings had yet to set a timeframe for its namesake stores.

In the past, Kmart and Sears have charged $5 for an eight-week layaway contract and $10 for the 12-week program.

August 30, 2012

Shares of Sears Holdings were under heavy selling pressure Thursday morning, sliding 7% to $53.38 on Standard & Poor's.

New York -- Shares of Sears Holdings were under heavy selling pressure Thursday morning, sliding 7% to $53.38 on Standard & Poor's. S&P plans to remove the chain from its S&P 500 Index because the chain’s public float has has been below the index's 50% threshold for an extended period of time.

The Sears' name, in one form or another, has been in the S&P 500 since it was created some 55 years ago. Sears will be removed from the index at the close of trading on Sept. 4. The retailer will be replaced by chemical maker LyondellBasell.

May 16, 2012

Cypress Equities said it has hired Steven Hrbek as property manager for The Streets of Woodfield, located in Schaumburg, Ill.

Dallas -- Cypress Equities said it has hired Steven Hrbek as property manager for The Streets of Woodfield, located in Schaumburg, Ill.

Hrbek will be responsible for onsite management and operation of the open-air, core retail center featuring more than 700,000 sq. ft. of retail space. He was previously senior real estate manager for CB Richard Ellis in Downers Grove, Ill.
 

December 19, 2011

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation that grants hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives aimed at keeping Sears Holdings Corp., along with CME Group Inc., which operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, headquartered in Illinois.

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Friday that grants hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives aimed at keeping Sears Holdings Corp., along with CME Group Inc., which operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, headquartered in Illinois.

Lawmakers approved the business tax breaks earlier this month, but Quinn had not yet signed the bill. Both companies had openly threatened to leave the state without some kind of significant aid package.

December 9, 2011

Illinois House leaders have agreed to pass tax breaks in order to keep Sears Holdings Corp. from abandoning its Hoffman Estates, Ill., headquarters in search of a new out-of-state home, according to Reuters.

Chicago -- Illinois House leaders have agreed to pass tax breaks in order to keep Sears Holdings Corp. from abandoning its Hoffman Estates, Ill., headquarters in search of a new out-of-state home, according to Reuters.

The deal is also designed to keep Ill.-based securities and commodities trading company CME Group in-state as well.

The House had previously shot down the tax package. 

October 11, 2011

An Associated Press report on Tuesday said that Hoffman Estates, Ill., trustees have passed a resolution asking the state of Illinois to try and keep the Sears Holdings Corp. headquarters located in Hoffman Estates.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- An Associated Press report on Tuesday said that Hoffman Estates, Ill., trustees have passed a resolution asking the state of Illinois to try and keep the Sears Holdings Corp. headquarters located in Hoffman Estates.

Sears has said it is in discussions with two prospective destinations for its corporate headquarters, but is still talking to Illinois about staying put.

Hoffman Estates’ mayor William McLeod has said it would "devastating" if Sears moved its headquarters to another locale.

October 4, 2011

Ross Dress for Less will celebrate its initial entry into the greater Chicago area with the grand opening of 12 stores on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Pleasanton, Calif. — Ross Dress for Less will celebrate its initial entry into the greater Chicago area with the grand opening of 12 stores on Saturday, Oct. 8.

"The opening of these 12 locations kicks off our entrance into the Midwest and our commitment to the greater Chicago area," said Michael O'Sullivan, president and COO for Ross Stores.

The offprice retailer will open stores in Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Bloomingdale, Crystal Lake, Matteson, Naperville, Niles, Orland Park, Rockford, Schaumburg, Skokie and South Elgin.

September 12, 2011

Oakbrook, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management said that Saks has signed a lease for 25,900 sq. ft. at Village Square of Northbrook in Northbrook, Ill., to open its third Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store in Chicagoland.

Northbrook, Ill. -- Oakbrook, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management said that Saks has signed a lease for 25,900 sq. ft. at Village Square of Northbrook in Northbrook, Ill., to open its third Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store in Chicagoland.

The store, which will unveil a new design, is slated to open in November.

Mid-America is the exclusive leasing representative for the 334,995-sq.-ft. shopping center located on Chicago’s North Shore.