Merchandising Pact Close

IRVINE — PIA Merchandising Services Inc. said Wednesday it has signed a tentative agreement to provide in-store merchandising services for the 2,600-store Eckerd Corp.’s drug store chain for a three-year period.

The contract “could be the largest ever” for the company and would create hundreds of new jobs spread across the country, said Roy L. Olofson, PIA’s chief financial officer. He declined to disclose financial terms until a final agreement is signed.

The Irvine-based company now has about 1,500 employees nationally and reported $120 million in revenue and a $3.8-million profit last year.

PIA provides clients with a variety of services including store layout design and product display. PIA also negotiates product placement agreements with manufacturers on behalf of its clients.

Olofson said the company expects to sign a final agreement with Eckerd--a unit of JCPenney Co.--within a few weeks and that it will assign a dedicated management and merchandising force of about 500 full-time and 500 part-time employees to the drug store chain.