Strategy

Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Casual Male Retail Group is taking a new approach with merchandising and store set-ups for the nationwide roll-out of its DestinationXL (DXL) format, which brings together its value, mid-range and luxury men's apparel under one roof. The chain has outsourced the store set-up function to Great American Group, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Manchester, N.H. -- Clothing retailer Big Dogs has opened a new prototype for future expansion. The new format has opened in three 2,400-sq.-ft. stores, in outlet shopping centers in Alabama, Missouri, and Nevada.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced that Bill Parker has been named the interim president of Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, a 43- store division in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Va., market, effective Sept. 15.

Parker, Farm Fresh’s current senior VP merchandising, will replace Gaelo de la Fuente who became the company’s president in April 2010 and is leaving the company to pursue other interests.
 

New York -- Brown Shoe Company has acquired the Sam & Libby brand and reunited it with its founders, Sam and Libby Edelman. For the last eight years, the brand was owned by The Jones Group.

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Progressive AE and Design Plus, both of which are based in Grand Raids, Mich., announced they have merged to create one of the area’s largest full-service design firms specializing in architecture, engineering and interior design. Financial details of the merger were not disclosed.

Philadelphia -- Three-fourths (75%) of retailers forecast an increase in holiday sales this year, according to a survey by Hay Group, a global management consultancy.

The annual Seasonal Staffing Survey report also finds that retailers have more confidence in holiday hiring plans. While 57% of retailers plan to hire seasonal workers at the same level as 2011, 36% say they will be hiring more. This stands in contrast to 2011 when just 10% planned to hire more seasonal workers than the year prior.

Rocklin, Calif. -- Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Donahue Schriber announced the start of construction on Rocklin Crossings, a 543,500-sq.-ft. power center located just east of Sacramento, in Rocklin, Calif.

Anchored by Walmart, Rocklin Crossings is one of two sister-shopping centers being developed by Donahue Schriber within the city. Together, they will offer over 900,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurants providing a regional shopping and entertainment destination for Rocklin.

Cranston, R.I. -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. said that LA Fitness will make its Rhode Island state debut at Garden City Center, located in Cranston.

The 38,000-sq.-ft., two-level facility will be located next to Office Max; a former Borders will be demolished to make way for LA Fitness.

Construction will begin in January 2013 with a late December 2013 or early 2014 opening set.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. has announced the appointment of Martin McGreevy as senior VP and chief marketing officer for the company.

McGreevy is charged with establishing and executing the company's corporate messaging, branding and marketing strategy.

Prior to joining DDR, McGreevy was president of Cyclonix Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based marketing and consulting firm.
 

Rochester Hills, Mich. -- Brixmor Property Group announced that a 8,001-sq.-ft. Dress Barn recently opened at Hampton Village Centre, located in Rochester Hills, Mich.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Hampton Village Centre.