Wilson's Leather To Close About 100 Stores (1,000 More Layoffs)

[hatrack]

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) -- "Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. is closing about 100 stores, nearly 20 percent of its total, and is eliminating more than 1,000 jobs after a dismal holiday season.

On Thursday, the leather apparel and accessories chain laid off 70 corporate workers, including 60 people at its Brooklyn Park headquarters and distribution center.

The store closings, to be completed in the next four months, will cut 950 retail jobs.

The moves will reduce Wilsons' number of stores to about 430 over the next three to four months, down from 598 stores at the start of the year, said Joel Waller, the retailer's chief executive officer."

EDIT

[central scrutinizer]

1. recovery picks up steam

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[mbperrin]

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

There go the jobs!

[NYYFan]

3. NC DUers, heads up- I called the Winston-Salem store

and was told that one is NOT closing. But I was told that the Asheville and Hickory stores are.

[bobthedrummer]

4. I went through two huge corporate failures, Wickes Furniture in the 80's

and Montgomery Ward's in the 1990's.
I was a comissioned salesperson and in a management training program at Wickes, I sold major appliances and power equipment at Ward's.
Giants both, and both fell.
I've shopped at Wilson's. Too bad.