Woolrich, Inc. Closing Woolen Mill
WOOLRICH – Woolrich, Inc., Clinton County’s oldest continuing business and once one of the area’s largest employers, is closing its woolen mill in Woolrich. The company announced the decision in a Thursday release:
Woolrich, Inc. Announces Closure of Woolen Mill
Woolrich, Pennsylvania, – Woolrich, Inc. has announced that it will be closing the Woolen Mill in Woolrich, Pennsylvania. It is anticipated that fabric manufacturing operations will cease by the end of the year and will affect up to 40 employees in the Mill.
Nick Brayton, President of Woolrich, Inc. said “the decision to close the Mill was made following a comprehensive review of our overall woven fabric business and the considerable capital improvements needed to modernize and maintain viable operations. Unfortunately, due to higher manufacturing costs, eroding margins and continued unprofitability within the Mill, it is no longer economically feasible to continue our Pennsylvania based Woolen Mill operation.
Woolrich, Inc. will provide career transitional services for affected employees. These services include severance pay based on years of service, outplacement assistance including resume preparation, and interviewing skills, and job placement assistance with local employers. Retirement and pension planning services will also be provided for those employees not seeking re-employment. The company plans to work with state and federal dislocated worker agencies to provide additional benefits and services that may be available to employees.
Brayton added “We are eternally grateful to all our employees for their years of dedication and loyalty to the Company and our number one priority right now is to help affected employees through this transition.”
Brayton concluded by stating, “While this was a very difficult decision, our strategic approach to align our collections globally remains our primary focus and we are continuing the next stage of the globalization of the Woolrich brand.”
The Company will maintain its wholesale, retail and e-commerce apparel businesses.
About Woolrich Established in Woolrich (PA) in 1830, Woolrich is the oldest American outdoor clothing brand, with two labels: Woolrich Outdoor, distributed in North America, and Woolrich John Rich & Bros., the contemporary high-end outerwear line distributed worldwide. With 188 years of experience and rich American history and values for the outdoors, Woolrich products reflect the Woolrich heritage by combining the brand’s historical identity with a contemporary interpretation. The Original Woolrich Arctic Parka, introduced in 1972 for the workers of the Alaskan pipeline, and now considered the quintessential down parka, is the worldwide-recognized brand icon and symbol. The Woolrich collections are distributed in 45 countries through a network of 25 stores worldwide. USA and Canada: www.woolrich.com; www.woolrich.eu; Europe and Asia: www.woolrich.jp
The nearly two century Rich family business had been sold in September for the second time in two years, most recently to a Luxembourg-based investment company. A fashion publication at the time said that sale meant that the Rich family, which founded the brand in 1830 and is currently a minority investor, will completely exit the company after seven generations of ownership.
