In a new holiday promotion, Kohl's Department Stores plans to stay open for 100 hours straight.
The marathon hours will start at 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and run through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 24, the retailer said.
"Customers can rely on us around the clock for their last-minute gift giving solutions," said Michelle Gass, Kohl's chief customer officer.
Retailers have been extending store hours and starting promotions earlier than usual during what has been a highly competitive holiday selling season.
The National Retail Federation anticipates an increase of 4.1 percent over last year, but said that during the kickoff Thanksgiving weekend, shoppers on average spent 6.4 percent less than they did a year earlier. This week, the group said sales in November were up 3.2 percent compared with November 2013, which the group believes is consistent with the sales forecast for the season.
lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com