American Girl to Close Call Center

The American Girl catalog division of toy giant Mattel will shut its Eau Claire, WI, call center on June 18, according to the “Wisconsin State Journal.” The dolls and books marketer plans to move many of the jobs to its other call centers, in nearby Middleton and Wilmot, WI. About 150 jobs, mostly part-time positions, will be added in Middleton and Wilmot.

The Eau Claire center, which has 25 salaried and 140 part-time employees, is no longer needed, spokeswoman Julie Parks told the paper, because American Girl has seen a 75% increase in Web-placed orders during the past few years. What’s more, the company has over that time opened stores in Chicago and New York, which has also led to fewer catalog orders.