IndustryEye

Catalogers’ Updates
• Gander Mountain: Twelve years since it last mailed a catalog, this hunting, fishing, outdoor apparel, and lifestyle products and services marketer has returned to the catalog industry. In late April, Gander mailed a 324-page catalog from its Overton’s subsidiary containing products from Overton’s, Gander Mountain and others to more than 2 million customers. Plans call for catalogs carrying exclusively Gander Mountain products to be mailed later this year. The company also expects to convert its informational Web site into a transactional one later this year.

• Dell: The personal computer marketer continued its recent cost-cutting initiative by laying off 250 workers in Ireland less than a week after shuttering an Ottawa call center that affected 1,100 employees. These layoffs come on the heels of the company’s decision to close a plant at its Austin, Texas headquarters, eliminating 900 jobs. The overall plan calls for the elimination of 8,800 jobs worldwide, saving the company $3 billion in costs annually.

• Bare Necessities: This online retailer of brand name, intimate apparel has launched its first-ever catalog, a 32-page book showcasing its assorted intimate brands. The catalog was produced by Haggin Marketing.

• The Sharper Image: The iconic electronics and specialty products cataloger/retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, has put itself up for sale. At press time, the company aimed to complete the sale process and seek approval of the sale by the bankruptcy
court imminently.

• Henry Schein: The dental and medical products distributor has acquired Minerva Dental Ltd., a supplier of dental consumables and equipment in the U.K. Minerva, with revenue of approximately $40 million last year, offers more than 25,000 SKUs from major manufacturers and provides design services, equipment servicing as well as handpiece repairs.

• Red Envelope: The multichannel gifts marketer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, has agreed to be acquired by Creative Catalogs Co. — parent company of the Personal Creations catalog — for approximately $5.7 million.

• Astrodyne: The B-to-B cataloger of AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, and external and wall-mount power adapters has been acquired by the Audax Group, a private equity firm. Peter Murphy, president and CEO of Astrodyne, will continue to lead the management team. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

People on the Move
HOME DEPOT: The multichannel home improvement retailer has hired Frank Bifulco as its new senior vice president and chief marketing officer. He’ll be responsible for strategic marketing vision, category marketing and brand development. Bifulco most recently served as chief customer officer and president of Hasbro North America Sales, and will report to Executive Vice President of Merchandising Craig Menear at Home Depot.

ORIENTAL TRADING CO.: This cataloger of party supplies, novelties, toys, children’s arts and crafts, school supplies, home décor, and giftware recently named Sam Taylor as its new CEO. He most recently worked for Hewlett-Packard, where he led the computer company’s global consumer direct business and the HP.com Web site. Prior to joining Hewlett-Packard, Taylor held management positions at Best Buy, Lands’ End, The Walt Disney Co., as well as Bain and Co.

FINANCIAL BRIEF
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: The Waterbury, Vt.-based coffee marketer/manufacturer/distributor posted an 89 percent increase in net income for its recently completed second fiscal quarter. Bolstered by the success of its Keurig brand of coffee brewers, whose shipments increased 130 percent over the previous year, Green Mountain posted a net income of $6 million in its second fiscal quarter, up from last year’s $3.1 million. Net sales for the second quarter were up 46 percent to $120.9 million compared to $82.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2007.