News

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, has reached an agreement with Bell Laboratories, Inc., a leading rodent control technology developer, to acquire the Tomcat consumer rodent control business.

Chico's FAS’ expansion plans are taking it outside U.S. borders, to Canada. The women's apparel retailer is opening a White House Black Market store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto on Oct. 24, and will follow it up with an opening at Square One, Mississauga on Oct. 29, as well as an opening at Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket on November 12.

Saks Fifth Avenue will unveil its renovated men’s store in its Chicago flagship on Michigan Avenue in January of the new year. The renovation will encompass a total redesign of floors six and seven, creating an open environment that will be easily accessed by a new express elevator that will take passengers directly to the men’s floors.  

Ace Brand from 3M Company has enlisted actor and rapper LL Cool J to help it kick off “A” Game Challenge, a nationwide contest inviting sports fans and aspiring young athletes nationwide ages 13-24 to submit “A” Game video entries, for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship.

Johnson & Johnson has elected Mark McClellan, senior fellow in economic studies and director of the Initiative on Value and Innovation in Health Care at the Brookings Institution, to the company's board of directors.

McClellan will serve on the Regulatory, Compliance and Government Affairs Committee and the Science, Technology and Sustainability Committee.

Scovill Fasteners, a developer and manufacturer of a diverse range of fasteners for apparel and industrial partners and part of the Gores Group portfolio of companies, has elected Gores executive James I. Pinto to its board.

“I’m pleased to have someone of Jim’s caliber and experience join our board, and am excited for our team’s opportunity to work with him,” said CEO Craig Stoudt.

The Internet and mobile have transformed consumer shopping behaviors, but the in-store shopping still remains important to many consumers, especially when buying cosmetics, apparel, grocery and office supplies, according to a new study from global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney. It is important, however, that retailers strategically assess and recast the role of stores.

Management consulting firm Kurt Salmon has named Deanna Emsley as a partner in the firm’s Retail and Consumer Products Group.

Emsley has nearly 25 years of experience in retail, specializing in planning, forecasting, distribution and omnichannel. She has worked as a consultant and in-house for top-tier brands, including Williams-Sonoma and Abercrombie & Fitch.

VeriFone Systems, an electronic payments provider, has unveiled next-generation site management solution, Commander Site Controller, and Ruby2, a touchscreen point of sale solution.

According to an internal memo from Family Dollar president and COO Mike Bloom, Jason Reiser has been elevated to the role of SVP/lead merchandising officer at the company.