Women’s apparel cataloger/retailer Coldwater Creek is the latest direct marketer to announce widespread layoffs. On Jan. 10 it announced that it will close its Sandpoint, ID, distribution center by the end of March and consolidate all fulfillment activity in its Parkersburg, WV, facility. About 120 workers there will lose their jobs.
Coldwater Creek will also cut another 80 jobs among its national retail store staff and 20 salaried positions in its headquarters. In addition, it will close two outlet stores by March. The company also announced the resignation of executive vice president/chief financial officer Donald Robson.
“We worked very hard to keep our Sandpoint center open and providing jobs for the past several years and were initially hopeful we could continue to do so,” chairman/cofounder Dennis Pence said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the downturn in the nautional economy has required that we further enhance cost controls and increase efficiences, so we now will be conducting all catalog, Internet, and retail store distribution from West Virginia.”