South Norwalk, CT—Coming off a flat 2000 companywide, gifts and novelties cataloger Miles Kimball plans to close down the merchandising and creative offices of its Exposures picture frames and gifts catalog division here and move those functions to its Oshkosh, WI headquarters. All 14 Exposures staffers here, including founder/president Randy Bourne, will be out of work by the end of the year. Bourne, however, will continue with Miles Kimball on a consulting basis into early next year to help with the transition.
“We’ve had a trying season, so we’re consolidating all operations to Oshkosh,” says Miles Kimball president Mike Muoio. “We gave the option to some Exposures people to relocate, not all,” but none chose to make the move. “We remain excited about the Exposures catalog and believe that it continues to have a very bright future and unique position in the catalog marketplace.”
Bourne describes his transition work as “very short-term, although it’s still being worked out.” He’s quick to point out that Exposures’ sales for the first half of this year have been 15%-20% ahead of last year’s pace—or slightly ahead of plan.
As for his future, Bourne won’t comment on his interest in possibly making a play for Exposures down the line (though according to Muoio, the book is “absolutely not” up for sale). “I love Exposures, it’s a terrific brand,” Bourne says. “I’m not going to rule out in the future possibly having some relationship with it.”