Vandalia distribution operation to close, lay off workers

A Vandalia e-commerce company is closing and laying off nearly 30 employees, according to a letter sent to Ohio government.

The Children’s Group, LLC, 6400 Sand Lake Road, is permanently closing, according to a letter to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

About 27 employees will be impacted by the closure, and layoffs will happen in dual phases, with the initial phase ending employment for 13 employees on or about Dec. 21, 2018, and a second phase happening by Feb. 28, 2019.

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“We expect these lay-offs to be permanent,” said a company letter signed by Kenny Ayscue, human resources director for the Children’s Group. “There is not a labor union representing employees at this location and bumping arrangements are not available for affected employees.”

Affected will be distribution center employees, equipment operators and maintenance workers, with team leaders, IT employees and others.

Founded in 2001, the Children’s Group is a multi-channel direct marketer of children’s gifts.

The Dayton site is a distribution and fulfillment operation, Ayscue said when reached Tuesday. The company develops outdoors and educational toys in Virginia, and previously, most of the distribution work happened from the Vandalia facility.

But that has gradually changed, Ayscue said.

“The reality with the toy (business) these days is that it’s very cyclical in nature,” he said. Most distribution these days is centered in Madison, Va., he said.

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