Marketing

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Southern California, on Oct. 11. The store is located in the La Mesa Center in the city of La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego.  

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

Dublin, Calif. – DD’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores Inc., will open a new store in Houston, on Sept. 27. The store is located in the Mission Bend Shopping Center in the Mission Bend neighborhood.

Including this new location, DD’s Discounts will operate more than 150 locations in 15 states and is on schedule to complete its expansion plan to open approximately 20 locations in 2014.

Dallas – The Container Store has hired Pete Lodwick as VP and general counsel. Lodwick will lead both internal and external teams responsible for legal strategy, regulatory affairs, and corporate compliance.

Prior to joining The Container Store, Lodwick practiced for 34 years at the Dallas-based law firm Thompson & Knight in the corporate and securities department.

The Pep Boys president, CEO and director Mike Odell has resigned. Director John Sweetwood has been named interim CEO, effective immediately.

Sweetwood has served on Pep Boys’ board of directors since 2002 and is currently the president of Woods Investment, LLC, a private real estate investment firm. Sweetwood is the former president of the Americas Six Continents Hotels (currently Intercontinental Hotel Group), which operates hotels under the InterContinental, Crown Plaza, Holiday Inn and other brands.

Coach has announced that executive chairman Lew Frankfort plans to retire upon his term’s expiration. He will not stand for re-election to the board at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders in November.

The company intends to bestow upon him the honorary title of chairman emeritus at that time.

A week after Gordon Brothers Group — a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors — tapped a new CEO, the company promoted Frank Grimaldi to national sales manager of the firm’s valuation and advisory services division.
 

Mars has announced a number of leadership changes, which include the departure of Todd Lachman, current president of the company's global pet care division.
 
Lachman, who has been with the company eight years, will be leaving at the end of 2014 to relocate his family to San Francisco. Poul Weihrauch has been named as his successor, effective Jan. 1. Weihrauch is currently global president of Mars Food and also has accountability for Mars drinks and European multisales. He has been with Mars for 14 years, working in multiple categories.
 

Foothills Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal named Jon Kubo as executive VP and chief digital officer, a newly created position, effective Oct. 6. Kubo will oversee e-commerce, digital marketing and the information technology organization to integrate digital consumer experiences across all business touch points.

San Diego -- Rubio’s Restaurants will redesign 60 of its restaurants in Southern California, with completion expected by the end of 2015. With more updates scheduled for 2016, the new and improved locations are slated to be a visual reflection of the fast-casual brand’s evolution and culinary progression.

Indianapolis - Hhgregg has redeveloped a store in Columbus, Ohio, with a new store format. Developed by real estate company Casto, the store opened Sept. 18, and employs 26 associates.

“Working with Casto to update the Sawmill location allows us to best serve our loyal Columbus-area customers,” said Dennis May, Hhgregg CEO. “Our best-in-class products and expert sales associates make this and our five other Columbus-area stores a destination for a superior appliance, furniture and electronics shopping experience.”