PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Rugs USA and Fresh American are closing the Annie Selke companies’ corporate office in Pittsfield, Mass., and the company’s retail location in Lenox, Mass., as of Dec. 31, according to records obtained from local newspaper The Berkshire Eagle.
The company filed the WARN notice with the Massachusetts government on Sept. 7. The notice said approximately 47 people, including CEO Lori King, will be affected. The employees were notified this week.
Lori King
Home Accents Today received this statement today from Rugs USA: “We can confirm that we have separated with a number of associates. This was not an easy decision, and we are committed to doing everything we can to support our teammates through this transition with care and respect. We are grateful for their contributions in helping make Rugs USA, NuLoom and Annie Selke market leading brands. By further consolidating operations into the existing Rugs USA footprint, we will sharpen our focus on business growth and continue to offer these brands for customers.”
Rugs USA acquired the Annie Selke companies last year and previously laid off between 40 and 50 warehouse employees in July 2023 while consolidating operations.
According to The Berkshire Eagle, Rugs USA President Alyssa Steele sent employees an email stating, “Today we are making significant updates to our ways of working across the enterprise. These changes include realigning teams under functional expertise with multiple brands served within a function, significantly revising the marketing function and rethinking and exiting from some of our initiatives and capabilities.”
Later in the email, Steele noted, “The home décor category which our business is part of, has suffered over the past several quarters because of challenging macroeconomic conditions. … Our business continues to experience many of these challenges.”
Annie Selke
According to the company’s website, “In 1994, Annie Selke harnessed her experience, passion and entrepreneurial spirit in creating beloved home brands Pinecone Hill and Dash & Albert.” The company’s website is still active.
During an interview with CEO Lori King last May, she told Home Accents Today, “I’ve worked with (Annie) for four years, and we’ve been developing the plan all along and formalizing it. We carefully worked through the process of selling the company (to Rugs USA). Annie has a vice president of product development who has been with her for 15 years and a design director who has been with her for 18 years. They have traveled with her to India and sat side-by-side in meetings for years. They are now empowered to continue what Annie started, and they are doing a phenomenal job.”
Rugs USA confirmed the layoffs and closures to local Massachusetts radio station WAMC, describing the move as “not an easy decision” and made to “sharpen ([their) focus on business growth” by consolidating operations. The company says it’s doing everything it can to support the employees losing their jobs.
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Publish date : 2024-09-12 06:30:00
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