Walmart

Philadelphia — Specialty retailer Five Below named current COO and industry veteran Joel Anderson as president and CEO, effective Feb.1., 2015.  Anderson has also been elected a member of the company's board of directors.  Current CEO and co-founder, Tom Vellios, who will work with Anderson to ensure a smooth transition, will remain active in the company as executive chairman.   

A former Walmart and Sears financial executive and a former Federal Reserve bank executive are the newest members of the board at gift card and financial services provider Blackhawk Network Holdings.

Blackhawk announced on Dec. 5 that Jane J. Thompson and Richard H. Bard were elected to its board of directors effective Oct. 6.

Walgreens Walgreens has named Linda Filler as president of retail products and chief merchandising officer effective Jan. 1.

Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson said: “With the addition of Linda, our retail products division will be well-positioned to join with Alliance Boots to deliver the unique combination of products and services that will set apart our future combined company.”

Walgreens named former Sam’s Club head merchant Linda Filler to the role of president of retail products and chief merchandising officer.

The hire is a positive development for Walgreens given Filler’s diverse background and accomplishments in a consumer packaged goods industry where many are more likely to recognize her by the maiden named Linda Hefner.

Deerfield, Ill. – Walgreen Co. has named Linda Filler as president of retail products and chief merchandising officer, effective Jan. 1. Filler will be responsible for the vision, leadership, strategic direction and performance of all Walgreens merchandising activities.   

Boston - A new study shows just how diluted Black Friday has become to holiday shoppers: Twenty-eight percent of shoppers shopped in stores Nov. 22/Nov. 23 and 34% of shoppers chose to shop in stores the weekend after Black Friday (Nov. 29/Nov. 30), while 25% shopped on Black Friday, according to Kantar Retail.

In other results, 65%  of shoppers surveyed chose not to shop because of crowds while 42% stayed out of stores to avoid traffic.

By Bruce Schanzer and Jennifer Bitterman

Bentonville, Ark.– While some retailers worry about mobile “showrooming” damaging in-store sales, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. welcomes brick-and-mortar shoppers with mobile devices. In an interview with CNBC, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon said 10% of Wal-Mart’s mobile orders come from customers inside its stores.