Wilsons (Leather) to cut 1,020 jobs, close 100 stores

[Whoa_Nelly]

Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. plans to close up to 100 stores and dismiss about 1,020 employees as it tries to repair its finances amid a sales decline.

A company spokeswoman said Friday that a list of store closings will be released next week. Wilsons operates five stores in Central Ohio, at Columbus City Center, Easton, Eastland, Polaris and Tuttle malls.

Wilsons will dismiss about 950 store employees and will eliminate 70 positions at its headquarters in Brooklyn Park, Minn., and at its distribution centers in Minnesota and Nevada. The company will also close its distribution center in Las Vegas.

<snip>
Wilsons expects to take a pre-tax charge of $40 million to $50 million, which will influence results for its 2003 and 2004 fiscal years.

more...
http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2004/01/19/daily31.html?jst=b_ln_hl

[mbperrin]

1. Wow! Look at that *Bush job machine go!

There the jobs go!

[candy331]

2. Sheesh are there going to be any jobs

left in this country soon? I'm beginning to wonder can anybody stop this slide of jobs. A change has to come and drastic at that.

[kysrsoze]

3. Jeez, just when heavy metal jackets were starting to come back in.

Sorry, that was mean.

Hate to say it, but Wilsons leather clothing is pretty terrible and has been overtaken by nicer stuff in department stores and lots of biker leather. They wanted too much money for terrible designs.