Marketing

Walgreens said stronger sales from established stores helped it trump analyst expectations for the first quarter, even as the company's acquisition of European retailer Alliance Boots remains on track to close this month.

Walgreens reported a 16.4% lift in quarterly profit to $809 million that was credited to the 222 million prescriptions filled for the first quarter ended Nov. 30. 

Family Dollar delayed a shareholder vote on a potential acquisition by Dollar Tree until Jan. 22 in a move that allows more time to contemplate a rival bid from Dollar General.

Family Dollar convened as planned on Tuesday and, based on insufficient votes, subsequently adjourned its Special Meeting of Stockholders on the proposed transaction with Dollar Tree.

Teen and pre-teen retailer Five Below landed two senior executives from Walmart.com and Ascena Retail Group for key roles as it looks to accelerate an already rapid pace of growth.

Walmart.com president and CEO Joel Anderson will join Five Below as president in July to oversee all aspects of merchandising, stores and marketing. Eric Specter, most recently EVP and chief integration officer for Ascena, will serve as Five Below’s chief administrative officer and oversee supply chain, information technology and real estate.

Michael Huseby was named CEO at Barnes and Noble after previously serving briefly as the retailer’s CFO and then president.

Huseby will also serve on the company’s board and oversee the 673 store retail group led by CEO Mitchell Klipper and the 695 store college group led by CEO Max Roberts. Huseby joined Barnes & Noble in March 2012 as CFO and was named president in July 2013.

CINCINNATI– FRCH Design Worldwide announced that Thomas Smith has joined FRCH as director, new business development for the firm’s Retail/Mixed-Use practice.    Smith will be based in Los Angeles and will be responsible for establishing new relationships for the firm throughout North America, supporting offices in Cincinnati, New York and a soon to be established office in Los Angeles.    

PLEASANTON, Calif. - For the second year in a row, Safeway Inc. has received a perfect score of 100% on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBT equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.  

New York - Executives from The Home Depot, Warby Parker and Chico’s will receive top honors at the National Retail Federation’s annual covention (the Big Show) in New York.   Frank Blake, former Home Depot CEO and current chairman, will receive NRF’s Gold Medal Award. Clicks-to-bricks eyewear retailer Warby Parker will receive the Retail Innovator of the Year Award,  with company co-founders and co-CEOs David Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal accepting the award.   

Plano, Texas - Home décor superstore retailer At Home has appointed Jennifer Warren as its new chief marketing officer.  Warren most recently held the same position for Radio Shack, where she was responsible for leading the marketing, consumer insights, private brand strategy, public relations and omnichannel teams.  

  Charlotte, N.C. - Belk Inc. has renewed an agreement with EBay Enterprise to provide multi-site customer support to scale with Belk’s continual growth. Belk first partnered with EBay Enterprise in 2008 with the launch of Belk.com.   

Los Angeles – Change is occurring at American Apparel Inc., and it may be coming from external as well as internal sources. The board of directors of American Apparel has confirmed that it has received an indication of interest to acquire the struggling company for $1.30 to $1.40 per share.    The identity of the potential buyer has not been disclosed, but in a press release American Apparel said it “takes these matters seriously, and will evaluate this proposal in the ordinary course of business.