growth
Payless to add 100 full-time jobs
Distribution center will grow by 200,000 square feet to include Stride Rite operations.
Friday, December 05, 2008
BROOKVILLE — Payless ShoeSource and Collective Brands Inc. will expand their eastern distribution center by 200,000 square feet and expect to hire 100 additional full-time employees, the companies said Thursday, Dec. 4.
Officials responsible for the center, just north of Interstate 70 off Arlington Road, have indicated to Brookville city officials since spring that the operation may expand. When the expansion is complete, the center will cover some 800,000 square feet total and will employ about 500 people.
"The great thing about it — for Brookville and for the region — is these are all new jobs," said John Wright, Brookville city manager.
The original 600,000-square-foot center will be dedicated to Payless distribution needs, serving stores east of the Rocky Mountains. The new 200,000-square-foot facility will support the Stride Rite Children's Group of the Stride Rite unit of Collective Brands and other Stride Rite-branded products.
Clayco Construction Group, which oversaw construction on the original $30 million facility, will lead work on the expansion, aiming for spring 2009 occupancy, companies involved said.
Those interested in applying for jobs may go to www.careersat
payless.com.
Collective Brands is the holding company for Payless ShoeSource Inc. and Stride Rite Corp. The publicly traded company (NYSE: PSS) reported this week that third quarter 2008 earnings were $47.5 million, or 75 cents per diluted share, up from third quarter 2007 earnings of $25.5 million or 39 cents per diluted share. Third-quarter net sales were put at $863 million, up $32 million from a year ago.
Collective Brands recently acquired Stride Rite, said Matt Rubel, Collective Brands chief executive. "Stride Rite had several distribution centers to support its businesses, and our intent is to integrate all our (distribution centers) for maximum efficiency and benefit," he said. "The expansion space is part of that integration effort."
In the company's 10-Q filing this week, Collective Brands acknowledged the weak economy but added: "We plan to continue to focus on reaching customers with new styles at compelling prices with great service."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or
tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
