Five Below Hires 50,000 Seasonal Workers

The discount retailer is staffing stores and distribution operations as it plans holiday promotions and a Toys for Tots drive.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Couponing

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Five Below is recruiting more than 50,000 seasonal workers for its stores and distribution operations, and is planning four one-day holiday promotions, including a Black Friday event on November 27. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Philadelphia-based Five Below is recruiting more than 50,000 seasonal employees for its stores and distribution operations, with applications accepted in stores and online at careers.fivebelow.com. The retailer also scheduled four one-day in-store promotional events for the 2026 holiday season.

Why it matters

The hiring reflects increased staffing needs during the year-end shopping period, when discount retailers typically expand workforces to handle higher customer volume. For shoppers, the promotional calendar offers a set of dated opportunities to buy holiday merchandise at lower prices.

Five Below's seasonal hiring covers both retail locations and its Ship Centers, with applications open at stores and online. Holiday assortment items include candy, collectibles and stocking stuffers starting at $1, and licensed merchandise featuring Peanuts, Bluey, Sanrio and KPop Demon Hunters.

The players

Five Below Inc.

Five Below is a Philadelphia-based discount retailer listed on Nasdaq under the ticker FIVE, known for selling a wide range of low-priced merchandise to young shoppers and families.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a long-running charitable program that collects new toys to distribute to children in need during the holiday season, operated by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

The details

Five Below is partnering with Toys for Tots for a 17th consecutive holiday season, with customers able to donate at store checkouts from November 1 through December 24. The retailer's four one-day in-store events include a Black Friday event on November 27 where customers spending at least $30 receive a free mystery dumpling collectible while supplies last.

Timeline

  1. November 1 through December 24, 2026: Toys for Tots donations accepted at store checkouts

  2. November 14, 2026: First one-day in-store promotional event

  3. November 27, 2026: Black Friday promotional event with mystery dumpling offer

  4. December 5, 2026: Third one-day in-store promotional event

  5. December 12, 2026: Fourth one-day in-store promotional event

Roadmap

Five Below's 17th consecutive year partnering with Toys for Tots extends a corporate giving pattern that has run alongside its holiday retail calendar. The seasonal hiring and promotional events follow the same year-end timing that discount chains use to position themselves ahead of peak shopping weeks.

Shoppers planning holiday purchases can use the dated promotional events to time buys on candy, collectibles and toys. Customers who want to contribute can donate a toy at store checkouts through December 24.

The takeaway

Planning holiday purchases around Five Below's scheduled one-day events can help shoppers capture dated promotions on toys, crafts and stocking stuffers. Donating at store checkouts through December 24 supports the Toys for Tots program during the same period.

What happens next

Five Below's Toys for Tots donation period runs through December 24, 2026, and its promotional events are scheduled for November 14, November 27, December 5 and December 12.

Further reading

Explore more deals and savings strategies in Couponing to plan your holiday purchases.

More information

Apply for seasonal roles through the Five Below seasonal job applications portal.

Source note: This article includes information reported by MyChesCo.

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Do you plan to buy holiday gifts at discount stores this year?