Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190094
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Kathie Lee collection will be sold exclusively in 2,100 of Wal-Mart's discount stores as part of an effort to boost the giant retail chain's women's apparel line, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
It also means that Gifford's name no longer will be associated with Halmode's Plaza South line of women's clothing. Halmode will continue to make that line for sale to department stores.
Most of the outfits in the new Kathie Lee collection that Wal-Mart will launch next month will sell for less than $50. Most items in the Plaza South line sell for $80 to $100.
Donna Sexton, a former model, has been named as the new spokeswoman for Plaza South clothing.
H.D. Kemp, manager of the Halmode plant in Roanoke, said the company has not noticed any decline in orders from retailers for the Plaza South line since the change.
Wal-Mart will focus initially on career sportswear and dresses in a wide range of sizes.
The company plans to add other brand names this spring to its apparel mix, the Journal reported.
Halmode employs 750 people at plants in Roanoke, New Castle and Covington.
The company needs 50 additional sewing machine operators, Kemp said. The starting salary is $5 an hour, with more experienced operators paid $6.30 an hour with the potential to make much more based on their production, he said.
Halmode was purchased in August by Kellwood Co., a St. Louis manufacturer of apparel, camping goods and home textiles.
by CNB