The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Liz Claiborne distribution center to close Sept. 1

Liz Claiborne Inc. is planning to close Sept. 1 and sell its distribution center on Jacquemin Drive in West Chester Twp.

Staff file photo by Nick Graham Liz Claiborne Inc. is planning to close Sept. 1 and sell its distribution center on Jacquemin Drive in West Chester Twp.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Parade to mark Memorial Day in Lebanon
6:01 p.m.
Lebanon updates law banning vicious dogs
5:59 p.m.
Emergency response team offers training
5:57 p.m.
4-H Club helps erect flag pole at Bentley Woods
5:55 p.m.
City honors life of Lebanon marshal
5:47 p.m.
> More headlines

By Chelsey Levingston, Staff Writer Updated 12:28 PM Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Liz Claiborne Distribution Center will close Sept. 1, affecting 365 jobs, company officials said.

This newspaper first reported in June 2011 the Butler County distribution center at had plans to close within a year. On Thursday, the company gave notification to the state of the closing date.

Employees are being laid off in several phases, according to company letters sent to state officials under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. It appears from the letter some layoffs already started Jan. 27. “We do not yet know each employee’s exact dates of termination,” the company WARN notice reads.

The closing of the distribution site at 8741 Jacquemin Drive in West Chester Twp. is related to plans to reduce debt and aggressively manage costs, according to the company. In Aug. 2011, the New York business announced it entered an agreement with Li & Fung Limited for distribution in the U.S. for the company’s owned retail stores and wholesale business.

Most recently on Jan. 4, Liz Claiborne said it’s changing its name effective May 15 to Fifth & Pacific Companies as a way to focus on its brands Juicy Couture, kate spade and Lucky Brand. The Liz Claiborne name brand has been sold to J.C. Penney, according to the company.

Liz Claiborne’s mass layoff notice is the fourth released for Butler County by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services this year. Job losses announced this year total 548 between Diversapack of Monroe, Liz Claiborne and Schneider Logistics Inc.

Coupled with layoff notices from companies in Greene, Clinton and Clark counties, Southwest Ohio has more announced mass layoffs to date in 2012 than any other part of the state.

Schneider Logistics also just announced in a notice to the state received Thursday it plans to cut 10 jobs.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts said last month it lost its contract to manage Hueston Woods Lodge in College Corner, but the 93 employees were offered their jobs with their new manager.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.

Share this article