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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Sears Holdings' SVP procurement and finance has been promoted.

Deidra Cheeks Merriwether now holds the title of SVP and president retail services, succeeding James Haworth. In this role, Merriwether, who joined the corporation in 2001, will be responsible for the oversight and leadership of retail services for the broadline retailer's Kmart and Sears stores.

Merriwether currently serves as a member of Sears Canada's board of directors and is the executive sponsor of the company's African-American Associate Network.

NOVATO, Calif. - Sears Holdings has launched a new online movie download service, Alphaline Entertainment (http://alphaline.roxionow.com), which enables Sears and Kmart customers to download entertainment online, including new movies on the same day they are released on DVD and Blu-ray disc. The service is being provided through Sonic Solutions RoxioNow platform.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Sears Holdings announced today that apparel veteran Lana Cain Krauter will join the company as SVP and president Sears apparel. She will be responsible for the oversight, leadership and growth of Sears' apparel business, both in-store and online.

LAS VEGAS - Sears announced that it has launched a new social media initiative called the Sears Blue Blogger Crew, which is dedicated to providing knowledgeable, industry bloggers the opportunity to engage in consumer electronics announcements, events and activities throughout the year. 

Salina, Kan. -- Addison, Texas-based Coyote Management, L.P. and Garrison Investment Group said they have acquired, through their affiliates, Central Mall, in Salina, Kan.

The 486,444-sq.-ft. enclosed regional mall is anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney and Sears, and also features a 10-screen Showplex Cinemas and key major tenants Jo-Ann Fabrics and Old Navy.

The newly acquired property augments the existing 2.8 million sq. ft. currently owned by Coyote Management.

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) said that Gertrude Hawk Chocolates has opened a new store at Willow Grove Park, in Willow Grove, Pa.

The 667-sq.-ft. store is located on the Second Level in the Bloomingdale’s Wing.

Willow Grove Park is a three-level, 1.2 million-sq.-ft. regional shopping mall anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Sears and The Cheesecake Factory.

TORONTO - Sears Canada announced that it has appointed Sharon Driscoll as SVP and CFO. Driscoll has held her current position with the company as SVP finance, since November of 2008.

Prior to joining Sears in 2008, Driscoll was employed with Loblaw Companies Limited, holding the position of SVP corporate development, and before that SVP finance national merchandising and SVP finance retail Ontario region. 

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears.com accounted for 6.21% of multichannel Web traffic for the week ended Nov. 27, which included Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to data released from Experian Hitwise.

The data showed Sears.com received 21.1 million visits for the week, just under JCPenney at 21.5 million visits, or 6.34% of total Web traffic. Walmart topped the list at 25.88% of all Web traffic, or 88 million visits, with Target ranking second at 15.26%, or 51.8 million visits.