Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 26, 1991 TAG: 9103260074
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY BUSINESS EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company expects to open May 1 employing 60 to 70 people.
The center will use part of the space being vacated by Tweeds Inc., a mail-order firm selling clothing. Tweeds is moving to a new building in Bonsack.
If the business grows, Joan Cook's order-shipment operation could increase to 150 to 200 jobs, said Harold Schwartz, president and part owner of the 26-year-old business. The company recently advertised for warehouse personnel, clerks, receptionists and a merchandise manager.
Joan Cook has 130 employees and annual sales of about $35 million, Schwartz said. He said the company is expanding, but he hasn't decided whether to bring his telemarketing and computer operations to Salem. The firm will occupy the former Graham-White Manufacturing Co. office building on Colorado Street.
Schwartz has worked previously in the Roanoke Valley. In 1985-86 he was president of the former Stuart McGuire Co., now part of Home Shopping Network, and was a director of Home Shopping.
He said he will move his mail-order jobs to Salem at the same time Home Shopping is said to be shifting more than 100 telemarketing, customer-service and mail-opening jobs from Salem to its St. Petersburg, Fla., headquarters.
Home Shopping spokeswoman Louise Cleary declined to comment on the company's plans. But employees reportedly have been told that only warehouse and distribution jobs will be left in Salem.
Schwartz said Joan Cook is moving some of its operations out of Florida in an attempt to get closer to its customers. Following recent rate increases by United Parcel Service and the U.S. Postal Service, "we are almost forced to move out of Florida," Schwartz said.
"Virginia is one of the good places" for mail order because it is closer to the major cities east of the Mississippi, he said.
Schwartz said he anticipates no difficulty finding experienced workers. He declined to say how much Joan Cook jobs will pay, but said his company's benefits "are probably better" than those of other businesses in the Roanoke Valley. Other mail-order companies in the valley include Orvis; Tweeds; Home Shopping; a Sears, Roebuck and Co. telemarketing center; and Corepac or USA Buyers Network.
Schwartz said Joan Cook plans to use racks and conveyors from the Tweeds operation.
by CNB