Mass Merchant

Atlanta -- Atlanta based retail design agency, Miller Zell, has expanded its design team and appointed Tom Ertler as as senior VP/design director leading environmental design initiatives. He joins the company from his most recent role as a founding partner with Authentic Retail Group, Pasadena, Calif., an integrated brand development firm. Prior to that, he was creative director at Envision, the full-service environmental design studio of Palladeo.

Crest has launched Be, a new line of toothpastes that features three new flavors: Mint Chocolate Trek, Vanilla Mint Spark and Lime Spearmint Zest.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas — The Woodmont Company plans to break ground in February on a new building at its Streetsboro Commons development in Streetsboro, Ohio. The new building, located on a pad, is already about 80% pre-leased to three national tenants: Starbucks, Jimmy John’s and Midwest Mobility Services/AT&T dealer.

Weiman Products, a leading manufacturer of specialty cleaning products, has acquired Goo Gone, Magic, Stone Care International, Natural Magic, OOPS! Paint Remover and Gonzo brands from the Homax Group.

“Adding Homax’s specialty cleaning brands to Weiman solidifies the Company’s position as the leading specialty cleaning products provider in the market,” said Carl DeMasi, Weiman’s president and CEO. “We fully expect our customers, suppliers, and employees to benefit from this acquisition.” T

Hudson's Bay Company has appointed Douglas Scovanner as EVP of finance and accounting, on an interim basis. Scovanner will support acting CFO with the day-to-day stewardship of the company’s financial planning, asset protection and accounting functions.

Prior to this appointment, Scovanner spent nearly two decades at Target, most recently as EVP and CFO.

New York -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association elected Richard Dreiling, chairman and CEO of Dollar General, as the new chairman of its board of directors.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as board chairman for RILA and to work with this exceptional group of retail leaders to strengthen our industry,” said Dreiling. “RILA is a critical strategic partner in empowering our industry to speak with one voice to champion issues that affect the retail sector, our workforce and our valued customers.”

Revelations of job cuts at leading retailers, the latest involving Sam’s Club, are a reminder that pro-active expense control remains retailers' best friend when it comes to ensuring profitability when faced with a murky outlook for consumer spending.

Sam’s Club on Friday became the latest retailer to disclose plans to eliminate 2,300 hourly and middle management positions. The move was characterized as a rebalancing of resources, according to Sam’s Club spokesman Bill Durling. Other retailers such as Macy’s and Target also recently announced job cuts.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores is eliminating the positions of about 2,300 Sam’s Club employees.  The job cuts represent 2% of Sam’s total workforce. Employees whose jobs are eliminated that cannot find another job with Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club will be eligible for severance.