Industry Eye: Quarterly Catalog Success (Now All About ROI)/Abacus Consumer Co-op Data Report

This month, we bring you the second in our exclusive quarterly reporting of Abacus Consumer Co-op data, the Quarterly Catalog Success/Abacus Consumer Co-op Data Report. The table below shows 2007-2008 year-to-year changes in dollars consumers spent with Abacus Co-op members, broken down by regions of the country.

With the economy plunging last year, naturally there were more decreases than increases, but at least a few regions posted modest gains. Most notable were gains in the Southwest Central states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The worst decreases were seen in the Pacific region: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

Catalogers’ Updates
Orvis: The multichannel retailer of outdoor sporting goods recently laid off 30 employees at its Roanoke, Va., distribution center. Orvis doesn’t expect further layoffs.

Chico’s: The woman’s apparel retailer is eliminating 180 positions, or approximately 11 percent of its workforce, at its Fort Myers, Fla., headquarters.

Eddie Bauer: The catalog/multichannel retailer of outdoor apparel, gear and accessories has cut 193 jobs as part of its cost-cutting moves. The cuts, which represent nearly 15 percent of the company’s nonretail staff, will be made at its corporate headquarters in Seattle, its IT center in Chicago, a distribution center in Columbus, Ohio, and a call center in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

Macy’s: The retailer will cut 7,000 jobs, or 4 percent of its workforce, as it aims to lower expenses and preserve cash. The job cuts, which will include some unfilled positions, will affect offices, stores and other units. The move is expected to lower Macy’s selling, general and administrative expenses by about $400 million annually starting in 2010

People on the Move
Frederick’s of Hollywood: FOH Group, parent company of the catalog/multichannel retailer of women’s lingerie and apparel, has named Thomas Lynch as its new CEO. Lynch has been a member of the company’s board of directors since the completion of Frederick’s merger in January 2008 with FOH Holdings. Linda LoRe has been promoted to president of the Frederick’s of Hollywood Group, while retaining her CEO role for the catalog/retail unit as well as her seat on the the company’s board.

JoS. A. Bank Clothiers: The men’s apparel merchant has promoted James Thorne to executive vice president for merchandising and chief merchandising officer. A 23-year company veteran, Thorne most recently served as senior vice president for merchandising and head of planning and allocation. He’s now responsible for all product design, manufacturing and sourcing; planning and allocation; and retailing of the company’s merchandise lines.

Harwin: The B-to-B cataloger of electronic connector systems has promoted Doug Steele to its global vice president of catalog distribution. Steele had previously served as Harwin’s North America distribution director.