AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR

Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear, a manufacturer of high-quality outerwear and apparel, has announced a three- to five-percent reduction in force at its Portland headquarters.

Approximately 150 employees will be impacted by the personnel realignment, which will be completed by the end of March 2024.

According to CEO Tim Boyle, “Our overall headcount and personnel expenses have outpaced the growth of our business. Layoffs will be done with respect and thoughtfulness, consistent with our core values while taking the actions required to get back to sustainable growth.”

Boyle said he expects 2024 to be a “challenging year with retailers placing orders cautiously, and economic and geopolitical uncertainty remains high. We are working diligently to maximize sales in this environment while optimizing our product, brand marketing, and marketplace strategies to accelerate growth in 2025 and beyond.”

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 FRUIT OF THE LOOM

Bowling Green, Kentucky-based Fruit of the Loom, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that manufactures clothing, particularly casual wear and underwear, has announced the closure of its Summerville, South Carolina distribution warehouse facility.

The closure will impact 119 employees and is scheduled for March 19, 2024. The closing process will take place over several months and be completed by July 1, 2024.

According to a company spokesperson, “As a global Company operating in a highly competitive marketplace, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., is constantly analyzing its business to ensure we remain as competitive as possible. After an extensive review of our distribution network, the decision was made to close the distribution center in Summerville, South Carolina, in support of a consolidation strategy.”

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 LULULEMON (04/19/24)

APRIL 19, 2024 — SUMNER, WASHINGTON DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO CLOSE, 128 LAYOFFS

The company has announced the closure of its warehouse and distribution center in Sumner, Washington, with 128 employees scheduled to be laid off on June 21, 2024.

A company spokesperson released the following statement:

“As we continue to deliver on our growth strategy to meet the needs of our guests, we regularly evaluate our distribution network to help shape and support the future vision of our business. Following a review of our current infrastructure and the evolution of our fulfillment strategy, which includes a multi-year investment to increase overall capacity and support our growth, we have made the decision to close one of our smaller distribution centers – located in Sumner, WA.”

“While some employees will be retained and will relocated to other facilities, including our recently opened distribution center in the greater Los Angeles area, the optimization will result in the reduction of just over 100 positions within the existing Sumner distribution center. We are committed to supporting our impacted employees through this transition.”

JULY 31, 2023 — Original post…

New York, New York-based Lululemon Athletica, an athletic apparel retailer, and developer of an interactive fitness platform designed to bring the essential components of a studio workout at home through live and on-demand fitness classes, has announced a shift in strategy from hardware to app-based workout content and the integration of its Mirror and Lululemon Studio operations.

The organizational changes will impact 100 Studio employees.

According to a company spokesperson, “As part of the evolution of Lululemon Studio, we made the decision to restructure the business and fully integrate it within Lululemon. This shift, as well as our evolved strategy from a hardware-centric offering to one that is also focused on digital app-based services, enables Lululemon to better drive long-term value through our Membership offerings and create deeper connections with our community of guests.”

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?