Liz Claiborne to Close Ohio Distribution Center

Apparel manufacturer/marketer Liz Claiborne is shrinking its operations. The company will close and sell its 900,000-sq.ft. distribution center in West Chester Township, OH, within the next year. Company spokesperson Dana Stambaugh says the closure will affect 400 jobs at the DC, which opened in 2002 on a 42-acre site.

Why is it closing the DC? The company said in a statement that it is “evolving to a new distribution model that better meets the current and future demands of our business.”

Stambaugh declined to elaborate on the company’s new distribution model, or how many DCs will remain after the facility closes in West Chester Township.

Liz Claiborne’s 2010 sales dropped 14.3%, to $2.5 billion. When CEO Bill McComb took over in November 2006, Liz Claiborne recorded annual revenue of about $5 billion.

J.C. Penney announced in October 2009 it would become the exclusive retailer for the Liz Claiborne brand.