Medford, OR—Having endured back-to-back subpar seasons from its Northwest Express catalog late last year and earlier this year, Bear Creek Corp. has closed the apparel and gifts title. Although Bear Creek decided in January to terminate Northwest Express, it waited until early August to make its decision public, posting a notice on its Website and e-mailing those customers for whom it had e-mail addresses. Bear Creek also produces food gifts catalog Harry and David and horticulture book Jackson & Perkins.
The division’s closing “allows us to focus on growth initiatives for the Harry and David and Jackson & Perkins catalogs, the Internet, and the stores,” says spokesperson Bill Ihle. “Sales growth didn’t meet our expectations over the past two seasons. Compound that with the slowdown in the economy and with the fact that it’s just been harder with apparel than other categories.” The catalog’s final mailing went out on April 9.