In Brief: Beglass Appointments… White To United… Garage Sale…

- BERGLASS APPOINTMENTS: Berglass + Associates has promoted Matthew Berglass to president and Cynthia Aherne to executive vice president. They were both senior associates. Also, Jeannie Amos was promoted to vice president from associate. An executive committee has been formed to work on strategic, operational and executional issues. It includes Aherne, Berglass, and his father, Les Berglass, chairman. Berglass + Associates has long specialized in the retail arena, but has expanded into the restaurant, beauty, airlines, Internet, appliances, luxury goods and not-for-profit sectors.

- WHITE TO UNITED: Redcats USA named The Wet Seal Inc. alum Gary White chief executive officer of its United Retail Group plus-size specialty store business. White will stay on at Wet Seal, where he is chief operating officer, until he officially takes charge of United on March 24, working from the company's Rochelle Park, N.J., offices. Raphael Benaroya, who was ceo when Redcats acquired United in the fall and stayed on during the transition, will remain a consultant to Redcats.

- GARAGE SALE: PPR, which owns Gucci Group, on Tuesday said it sold the Polish operations of its Conforama furniture chain to France's Leroy Merlin for 45 million euros, or $66.7 million at current exchange. Conforama generated 24 million euros, or $36.6 million, in sales last year in Poland. PPR recently sold several of its less profitable businesses, including the Printemps department store and Orcanta lingerie chain.

- NYGARD TO CLOSE LAST FACTORY: Nygård Mfg. is closing the last of its sewing plants, a facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on May 16, blaming the decision on a shortage of fabric. About 250 workers will lose their jobs. The company said the fabric needed for its Feathertouch pants is no longer being manufactured in North America and the company is looking for an offshore supplier to produce the style. The strength of the Canadian dollar was also a factor in the company's decision to close the plant. Nygård will continue to employ about 900 people in its Winnipeg design, retail and IT operations. Nygård stores and tailoring shops also will remain open.