AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT C.H. BRIGGS

Reading, Pennsylvania-based C.H. Briggs, a woman-owned distributor of interior specialty building materials, has announced that it will be winding down operations in the coming months and closing the business.

The closure will impact 130 employees across its five locations in Reading, Pennsylvania; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Norcross, Georgia.

According to C.H. Briggs Chairwoman Julia Klein, “To say we are sad and disappointed would be an understatement. Changes in the supply chains we depended on mean we can no longer provide the quality of products and customer service that was the hallmark of our business. We made every attempt to avoid this outcome. Our efforts were exhaustive, but we were left with no other option but to wind down our operations.

"We recognize how painful this decision is for our co-workers and customers, which is why we worked so hard to avoid it. We have a talented team, and we are doing all we can to help them be successful in the next phase of their careers. We have built a strong culture over three generations, and we are deeply grateful to our co-workers, customers and suppliers for more than a half-century of empowering, elevating and enriching the lives of the communities we serve."

"C.H. Briggs is more than just a distributor of specialty building materials. Our work has always been about people and community – creating exceptional spaces where we can all live, work, learn, play, and heal. Our hope is that those spaces, and the people who design and build them, will be our legacy.”

The company’s decision to close was made after exhaustive efforts to restructure its relationship with its primary supplier were unsuccessful.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT BUILDERS FIRSTSOURCE

Dallas, Texas-based Builders FirstSource, engineered lumber, millwork, and building supplies vendor to industrial, commercial, and residential markets, has announced a major reduction in force that can be attributed to the decline in new construction in a challenging market of inflationary prices, rising interest rates, and the unavailability of affordable mortgages.

The reduction in force will impact 2,600 employees nationwide.

According to statements by company officials, “Given the challenging market environment, we’ve had to take a deep look into our business and make some difficult decisions in order to continue ensuring the company is positioned for long-term growth. We believe the steps we have taken to right-size the business at this point will allow us to weather the decline in housing starts while effectively serving our shareholders, customers, and our team members.”

"The company has reduced redundant facilities in some smaller markets where it had multiple locations, but the moves will not reduce manufacturing capacity."

“This work is never easy, and these are difficult decisions with respect to our respective team members, but we must be responsive to the market deceleration and best position the company to navigate this environment. We are proactively managing the downturn, and we are prepared to act decisively to protect and resize the business as necessary. The majority of the layoffs were temporary positions.

"We are confident in our ability to navigate through any market environment, and we will remain proactive in implementing our downturn playbook to streamline costs and stay close to our customers and supply partners.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?