Reuter’s reports that Newell Rubbermaid Inc expects to cut more jobs to reduce costs in a weak economy that is pressuring sales and profits. “I think whenever you look for structural cost improvements, invariably, that means a smaller organization,” Chief Executive Mark Ketchum said in an interview. But he added the job cuts would not be a targeted program with a set percentage identified. The maker of Sharpie markers and a host of other products reported a drop of 68% in quarterly profits on Oct 30th, 2008, and warned that full-year sales would be about flat compared to 2007, excluding acquisitions. Ketchum also said he was surprised that the office products market had been hit so hard.
FM Brush announced that industry veteran Shar Sosh has joined the Sales/Creative team.
Former Jo-Ann exec Dotty Grexa is now Executive Director of Hattie Larlham, a non-profit organization that provides care to children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in the Cleveland, OH area.
Canton, MA consumer electronics retailer Tweeter was purchased by a liquidator Thursday October 30th, after closing all of its distribution centers and pushing all inventory out to its stores. The closings followed the recent departures in October of Tweeter’s CEO and former Art Stores owner and CEO George Granoff after his 13 month stint with the company.
Seth Golden, currently working at Golden, has accepted a new position as Associate Sales Representative. Seth will be responsible for the activities of all accounts in the Rocky Mountain and Southwest territories. Seth is currently in the process of moving into the Denver, CO metro area. As soon as his contact details are confirmed, we will provide you with that information. Please join us in welcoming Seth to the field operations at GOLDEN.
Joining General Pencil’s sales and marketing team is Kirstin Barrett, a recent UCLA graduate. She will be based in Redwood City, CA, helping with inside sales support, customer service and marketing materials, and you will see her at trade shows. With her Environmental Studies degree and business experience, she will also help General Pencil communicate its green initiatives and continuing sustainability measures. (You may have met her on the phone by now.)
According to Creative Leisure News, Harold’s, a high-end men’s clothing chain with stores in 19 states, has filed Chapter 11. Harold’s CEO Ron Staffieri is the former president of Michaels.
Here’s an FYI for your Rolodex: most folks in the art supply industry know the names Triangle Coating/ Modern Options as intertwined. What most folks do not know is that Modern Options was changed to Sophisticated Finishes several years ago. The Modern Options name no longer exists at all; all product labels carry the Sophisticated Finishes name and Triangle Coatings is the parent company.
Chartpak has announced that effective November 14, 2008 it has acquired the selected assets and rights of the Higgins Drawing & Writing Ink business from Sanford, L.P. Higgins ink manufacturing will be relocated to Leeds, MA where Chartpak currently produces Koh-I-Noor branded inks. The entire Higgins product range will remain in the Chartpak product portfolio, including the ever popular Black Magic waterproof ink.