IndustryEye: Catalogers’ Updates & People on the Move
Catalogers’ Updates
PetSmart: The multichannel pet supplies retailer in late April sold its State Line Tack equine assets to PetsUnited, a holding company for a Web-based marketer of pet and equine products, including Dog.com, Fish.com and Horse.com. PetsUnited plans to move the State Line Tack online and catalog business from Brockport, N.Y., to its Hazelton, Pa., facility by July.
Cutter & Buck: This apparel cataloger/designer in April agreed to be acquired by the Sweden-based New Wave Group AB, a designer/marketer of assorted apparel lines for the corporate promotional and consumer retail markets in Europe. Under New Wave Group’s ownership, Cutter & Buck intends to expand its U.S. apparel line. The deal will give New Wave the opportunity to distribute Cutter & Buck’s golf and sportswear line in Europe.
Celebrate Express: This cataloger of party products plans to consolidate its customer service and print manufacturing operations into its Greensboro, N.C. location. Approximately 48 employees at its Kirkland, Wash., facility will be laid off. The total one-time cost of the consolidation will be $250,000 to $300,000. The annualized benefits are projected at approximately twice the one-time costs. By July, Celebrate Express will have vacated the Kirkland building, says CEO Kevin Green.
The Baker’s Catalogue: Norwich, Vt.-based King Arthur Flour, parent company of The Baker’s Catalogue, penned a deal with the French Pastry School at the City Colleges of Chicago in April to supply the school’s students with its line of conventional and organic flours.
Blair: Apparel cataloger Blair Corp., which was acquired by Appleseed’s Topco in April, reported a first-quarter net loss of $5.1 million, or $1.35 per share, compared with a $4.8 million/$1.23 per share loss for the same quarter last year. Sales for the period plunged 26 percent from $102.7 million to $76.1 million.
The Warren, Pa.-based Blair blamed the negative numbers on a reduction in catalog circulation, as well as on the implementation of a new warehouse management software system.
CDW: The B-to-B computer products cataloger posted a 17 percent sales gain for the first quarter of 2007, from $1.59 billion last year to $1.86 billion. Excluding its Berbee Information Networks unit, which CDW bought last October, the company’s sales gain was 8 percent — $1.72 billion.
People on the Move
Home Decor Products: This kitchen and bath products retailer in late April hired former Hanover Direct EVP and COO Michael Contino as COO, responsible for the daily operations of the company. “As Home Decor Products reaches for revenues of $200 million,” said Home Decor Products CEO Michael Golden in a statement, “our need to excel operationally becomes critical. Michael Contino brings expertise in managing centralized operations for multibrand direct retail businesses.”
JoS. A. Bank Clothiers: The menswear cataloger/retailer in April promoted Chief Merchandising Officer R. Neal Black to president. He’ll continue his responsibilities as CMO and report to CEO Robert Wildrick. Wildrick also has been given the title of executive chairman.
