From staff and wire reports

Jones the Florist changes owners

Jones the Florist - one of the area's oldest florists with five locations in Greater Cincinnati - has been sold to Cincinnati businessman David Fisher and members of his family for an undisclosed price.

JoLynn Gustin, owner and CEO since 1985, said she will remain as a consultant, and the company's 55 employees will keep their jobs.

Micro Warehouse employees canned

CDW Corp. notified 230 employees at Micro Warehouse's distribution center in Wilmington Friday that they are losing their jobs, as part of CDW's purchase of Micro Warehouse assets in the United States and Canada.

CDW said 200 of the warehouse and receiving employees are losing their jobs immediately, and the remaining 30 will be gone by the end of the month.

The employees will receive severance pay and help in finding new jobs, CDW spokesman Gary Ross said.

Elder-Beerman offer increased

Elder-Beerman Stores Corp., the unprofitable operator of 68 department stores, received an increased $90 million offer from Wright Holdings Inc. to fend off a competing bid from Bon-Ton Stores Inc.

The amended agreement with Wright would offer shareholders $7.80, compared with a previous offer of $7.05, Elder-Beerman said. That tops an offer Bon-Ton made this week of $7.25 a share for the Dayton-based company.-

The companies have been competing to purchase the chain, which has locations in eight Midwest states. In June, Elder-Beerman accepted an offer to be acquired and taken private by Wright Holdings, which was formed by investment firm Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Inc.