It's OK -they're opening more McDs in VA.
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Howard Miller closing Ridgeway plant
-- Furniture Today, 10/11/2007 6:34:00 AM
Shutdown will affect 70 jobs
RIDGEWAY, Va. — Howard Miller will close its Ridgeway Furniture plant here, which has been producing curios and wine cabinets under the Ridgeway brand, according to a report in today’s Martinsville Bulletin.
The shutdown will take place over the next few months and will affect 70 jobs, according to Mark Siciliano, director of marketing for Ridgeway parent Howard Miller. Production will shift to the Howard Miller facilities in Zeeland, Mich.
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Stanley laying off 250 workers
-- Furniture Today, 10/10/2007 6:27:00 AM
Will close manufacturing operations in Martinsville, Va.
STANLEYTOWN, Va. — Stanley Furniture will shift its manufacturing operations from Martinsville, Va., into its Stanleytown plant, laying off 250 workers, the company announced today.
Warehouse operations will be expanded in Martinsville, the company said.
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“The continuing downturn in business conditions impacting our industry requires us to manage our cost structure,” said Jeff Scheffer, chairman, president and CEO of the manufacturer and importer.
Both management and hourly jobs will be eliminated over the next two to four months at the Virginia plants, which together employ about 1,300 people, the company said. Plants in Lexington and Robbinsville, N.C., will not be affected.
Stanley said it expects to take a charge for restructuring and impairment, mainly in the fourth quarter and next year’s first quarter, of about $6 million pretax, or $4.1 million or 39 cents per share after taxes. About half of the charge will be non-cash.
The company said it will work with the Virginia Employment Commission to help laid-off workers and will apply for federal Trade Adjustment Act assistance for them. Scheffer said he hoped to be able to rehire some when business conditions improve.
“We sincerely regret the impact that this move will have on many of our associates. However, we believe this will align our staffing levels with current business conditions and strengthen our remaining manufacturing operations and provide us the opportunity to produce our products more efficiently,” he said.
“We remain more committed than ever to domestic manufacturing and to operational improvements that improve quality (and) productivity and shorten our already quick delivery times.” |
