Finance & Capital Management

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples announced the appointment of John Buchta to VP, treasurer and tax. Buchta adds the role of treasurer to his current responsibilities as VP, tax, and will continue to report to Christine Komola, executive VP and CFO.  

Buchta joined Staples in 2011 as VP, tax. Prior to Staples, he was a partner at Ernst & Young.

Buchta succeeds Lisa Scopa, who has been appointed VP, high growth markets.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. has opened its 11,000 store, marking itself as the retailer with the most stores in the United States.

The st0re is located in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Dollar General said it anticipates opening 650 new stores in 2013. The company plans to create 6,000 new jobs in 2013.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens announced it is launching a full suite of integrated financial services, Balance Financial, in phases over the coming months. The services are all built around the chain’s new Balance  Financial Prepaid MasterCard.

Balance Financial is currently offered to customers of more than 250 Walgreens locations in Detroit, Milwaukee, and Nashville, with a nationwide card rollout expected before year end and additional financial services in 2014.

Staples has promoted John Buchta to VP, treasurer and tax. Buchta adds the role of treasurer to his current responsibilities as VP, tax, and will continue to report to Christine Komola, EVP and CFO.

“John has been an outstanding leader at Staples and brings more than 25 years of industry experience to his new role,” Komola said.

Buchta joined Staples in 2011. Prior to Staples, he was a partner at Ernst & Young. He succeeds Lisa Scopa, who has been promoted to the position of VP, high growth markets.

CashStar, a digital gifting company, has named Ben Kaplan as the company’s president and CEO. In addition to his role as president and CEO, Kaplan remains a member of the company’s board of directors, to which he was appointed in August when he joined CashStar as COO.

BeachMint, parent company of JewelMint, StyleMint, ShoeMint and intiMINT, has expanded its partnership with Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, designers of the Row, Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye and StyleMint. 

The agreement names Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen co-chairs of BeachMint's advisory board, a role that will be consultative and creative in nature across the four fashion Mint brands. Previously the celebrity twins were partners and designers solely in BeachMint's apparel brand, StyleMint.

Walgreens plans to launch a full suite of integrated financial services, Balance Financial, in phases throughout the next few months. 

The services are all built around the chain’s new Balance Financial Prepaid MasterCard. Balance Financial is currently offered to customers of more than 250 Walgreens locations in Detroit, Milwaukee and Nashville, with a nationwide card rollout expected before year end and additional financial services in 2014. Balance Financial is powered by Galileo, a leader in advanced payment processing solutions.

A manufacturing facility in Rogers, Ar., operated by Redman & Associates plans to hire 74 new workers as it increases domestic sourcing of ride-on toys sold at Walmart.

Wilmington, N.C. -- National mobility equipment franchisor 101 Mobility is seeking to attract potential franchisees in the Kansas City, Mo., market. 101 Mobility has introduced geo-specific online advertising combined with SEO-rich organic content to reach potential Kansas City franchise candidates.

101 Mobility currently has 29 franchisees operating physical and online stores in 70 territories.

Canton, Mass. — As part of Dunkin’ Donuts’ development strategy to increase its international presence, the company has announced plans to develop restaurants in Turkey. The company is seeking large well-capitalized groups with operating experience capable of building out region with a minimum of 20 to 25 restaurants. The schedule calls for the first restaurants to open in early 2015. The goal is to develop more than 100 restaurants over the next 10 years.