BUSINESS WIRE --Simmons Bedding Company announced today that it is transitioning its Atlanta manufacturing operations to the company’s facilities in Dallas, Texas; Waycross, Ga. and Charlotte, N.C. with an anticipated effective date of September 18. The move is part of an ongoing effort to optimize Simmons’ operations network in the southeastern United States and will create a more efficient production and delivery system without disrupting service to retailers in the region.
“The decision to close our Atlanta manufacturing facility is a very difficult one for us because of its impact on loyal Simmons associates,” said Simmons Chairman and CEO Charlie Eitel. “Until recently, we believed our Atlanta facility would continue to be part of our manufacturing network; however, due to weaker than expected business conditions, we simply could not justify maintaining two manufacturing plants in the state of Georgia.”
In 2004, Simmons opened a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Waycross, Ga., which has emerged as one of the top manufacturing plants in the Simmons network. Employing 211 associates, the facility offers excellent safety, quality and service, as well as lower manufacturing costs.
This past April, Simmons reduced its Atlanta production to one shift and moved a portion of business to what is also a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dallas. The balance of Atlanta’s production will shift to the Waycross and Charlotte plants on September 18.
According to Kimberly Samon, Simmons’ executive vice president of human resources, the company decided to consolidate its southeast manufacturing operations because of reduced utilization. “Due to the current economic situation, our southeastern facilities have not been operating at full capacity,” said Samon. “Consolidating our manufacturing operations resolves that issue; however, we regret that it will negatively impact our Atlanta associates. We have no further plans to close other facilities.”
The Waycross, Dallas and Charlotte plants are three of Simmons’ leading manufacturing facilities: the Waycross plant has been nominated for the Georgia Manufacturer of the Year award each of the past two years and features a new 250,000 square foot building that showcases lean manufacturing; in April 2008, the Dallas plant moved its operations into a brand new facility that includes environmentally-friendly aspects like energy-efficient lighting and high-efficiency air compressors; and the Charlotte plant’s achievements include being selected for OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) by the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Division and receiving the 2003 Tony Saliture Award for Operational Excellence, Simmons’ highest honor.
The closure of the Atlanta facility will result in the layoffs of 91 associates and 12 administrative and management team members, whom Simmons is helping to transition through this difficult time. Nonunion employees will receive severance packages scaled according to tenure, subsidized health insurance for the length of the severance period, outplacement assistance and access to Simmons’ Employee Assistance Program, which includes job, financial and personal counseling. Union employees will receive a severance package that is subject to bargaining with their union.
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
Simmons Consolidates Atlanta Manufacturing Operations into Existing Facilities
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Aflac Named a Best Place to Launch a Career by BusinessWeek Magazine
PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has been named a top 119 company for entry-level workers in BusinessWeek's 2008 Best Places to Launch a Career listing. In a special online report, the magazine noted the insurer's internship program for college students, company benefits and advancement opportunities through leadership development training as favorites among new professionals entering the workforce.
"We strive to create a work environment at Aflac that not only supports employees in starting a new profession, but also in building a long-term career within the company," said Sharon Douglas, vice president and chief people officer, Human Resources. "It is a special honor to be recognized by BusinessWeek as a top workplace, particularly as more companies find innovative ways to become an employer of choice."
In determining the top companies, BusinessWeek used a three-part methodology that included feedback from three different sources. First, the magazine surveyed directors of undergraduate career services to find out which employers were creating excitement among students on campus. Next, finalists were asked to complete a questionnaire about pay, benefits, retention and training programs, which was then compared to other employers in the same industry. Finally, Universum Communications, a Philadelphia research company supplied data from its survey of more than 37,000 U.S. undergrads about the finalists at the top of their list of most desirable employers.
"In this challenging environment, companies are finding inventive ways to attract, retain and motivate their youngest employees," said John Burn, executive editor of BusinessWeek during a podcast discussion on the listing.
Aflac has a University Relations program dedicated to helping the company successfully attract the most outstanding new talent. Through this program, the company offers paid internships and co-ops, including housing for college students. In 2008, Aflac partnered with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce to launch the city's Young Professional's organization that is designed to provide networking opportunities throughout the area for registered members. Additionally, Aflac's on-site career development courses and Leadership Academy are counted among the top training programs in the country.
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Delta Launches Improved SkyMiles® Shopping with 350 Added Retailers
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delta Air Lines [NYSE: DAL] SkyMiles members now can shop at more than 500 leading online retailers while searching and comparing more than 20 million products through the new and improved SkyMiles Shopping, a premier online shopping destination.
At SkyMilesShopping.com, members earn up to 10 miles per dollar spent and receive special mileage bonuses and savings when they shop at top online merchants, including Barnes & Noble.com, circuitcity.com, homedepot.com, JCPenney.com, Lands’ End ®, Staples.com, Williams-Sonoma.com, and many more.
“We’re excited to offer our members more options and convenience when shopping at their favorite online stores,” said Jeff Robertson, managing director of Delta’s SkyMiles Program. “This seamless and superior shopping experience gives members the opportunity to earn their next Award ticket by making everyday purchases.”
To launch the new SkyMiles Shopping experience, Delta worked with Mall Networks, a leading provider of merchant-funded loyalty shopping solutions. Mall Networks offers SkyMiles members more retailers, hundreds of special offers and coupons, improved search capabilities and a personalized comparison shopping experience. Prior to Mall Networks, SkyMilesShopping.com featured mileage-earning opportunities and savings at 150 online retailers.
Dave Andre, president and CEO of Mall Networks, said, “Delta is a market leader and innovator when it comes to loyalty programs, and they recognize the unmet potential of merchant-funded loyalty shopping. With our innovative solution and strong track record of success, Mall Networks is the perfect partner to provide powerful, flexible shopping options to SkyMiles members.”
Mall Networks provides innovated multi-channel loyalty shopping solutions that increase revenue, strengthen customer loyalty, and improve member engagement for a range of industries including financial services, card issuers, airline and hospitality, affinity organizations and loyalty programs. Featuring an integrated network of more than 700 world-class online and bricks-and-mortar merchants, Mall Networks' multi-channel shopping solutions and flexible, on-demand platform power personalized online and in-store shopping programs for more than 100 million consumers. Industry leaders including JPMorgan Chase, Upromise, Verizon, Shop.org, Spirit Airlines, Virgin and NASCAR rely on Mall Networks to build loyal, profitable customer relationships. Mall Networks is headquartered in Lexington, Mass. For more information, visit www.mallnetworks.com.
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Simmons Closes Ontario Manufacturing Facility Due to CAW Work Stoppage
BUSINESS WIRE --Simmons Canada announced today that it is closing its Ontario, Canada manufacturing plant effective immediately due to an unacceptable loss in revenue and customer business caused by the recent Canadian Auto Workers Local 513 work stoppage at the facility.
Simmons Canada President Paul Bognar says that the effects of the strike have compromised the plant’s economic viability. “The decision to close our Ontario plant was not an easy one, but we feel it is necessary in order for Simmons Canada to maintain its market share and preserve our customer base,” said Bognar. “Our number one priority is providing consistent customer service to our dealer network, and we are working to make this transition as smooth as possible for Simmons Canada retailers.”
A significant portion of the plant’s production volume will continue to be manufactured in Canada; approximately 25 percent will be handled by Simmons Canada facilities in Kirkland, Quebec and Calgary, Alberta with the remainder carried out by Simmons U.S.A. plants in Janesville, Wis. and Hazelton, Pa. The same four facilities have handled the Ontario plant’s product orders since employees initiated a work stoppage on August 15.
With the closure of the facility come the layoffs of 145 associates and eight administrative personnel, who are represented by the union. For more information, visit www.simmonscanada.com.
This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events and financial performance. Words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts” and variations of such words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events, results or trends, or that do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this report. These forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: (i) general economic and industry conditions; (ii) competitive pricing pressures in the bedding industry; (iii) legal and regulatory requirements; (iv) the success of our new products and the future costs to roll out such products; (v) our relationships with and viability of our major suppliers; (vi) fluctuations in our costs of raw materials and energy prices; (vii) our relationship with and viability of significant customers and licensees; (viii) our ability to increase prices on our products and the effect of these price increases on our unit sales; (ix) an increase in our return rates and warranty claims; (x) our labor relations; (xi) departure of our key personnel; (xii) encroachments on our intellectual property; (xiii) our product liability claims; (xiv) our level of indebtedness; (xv) interest rate risks; (xvi) foreign currency exchange rate risks; (xvii) compliance with covenants in our debt agreements; (xviii) our future acquisitions; (xix) our ability to achieve the expected benefits from any personnel realignments; and (xx) other risks and factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, either to reflect new developments or for any other reason.
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Friday, September 5, 2008
Career Expo Brings Opportunities for Professional Women Atlanta Women For Hire Career Expo
The Women For Hire Career Expo will be held Tuesday, October 14, 2008 from 10 AM to 2 PM at Cobb Galleria located at Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339 (free admission and free parking). Meet face-to-face with more than 50 top employers with great jobs at Atlanta's most popular, high caliber recruiting event for professional women.
Register in advance for an exclusive early morning seminar with Women For Hire CEO Tory Johnson and Good Morning America’s Workplace Contributor to get a jump-start on your job search success! Business attire and resumes required. Free resume critique throughout the day. Learn more details at www.womenforhire.com or by calling 212-290-2600.
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Statement by John McCain on Today's Jobs Report
U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement on the jobs report:
"Americans are hurting and we must act to create jobs. Unfortunately, while millions of Americans are gathering around the kitchen table and questioning how they can keep their homes, pay their medical bills and afford their children's education, Washington has failed to act.
As I promised last night, I will fight for those that lost their jobs, savings, and real estate investments. Some Americans have been left behind in the changing economy, and it often seems your government hasn't even noticed. We must prepare every worker for the jobs of tomorrow. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. As President, I will enact a Jobs for America economic plan that creates jobs, helps small businesses, expands opportunities and opens markets to American goods. Washington must stand beside the American people, not in their way.
"Sadly there are those who believe that to grow this economy we must raise taxes, impose costly new mandates and isolate America from the global economy. When our economy is hurting, the last thing we should do is raise taxes as Barack Obama plans to do and has done. The American people cannot afford a Barack Obama presidency."
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Thursday, September 4, 2008
New Cars Show Signs of Sales Strength in August '08
PRNewswire/ -- The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord saw a rise in views of 34% and 39% respectively in August 2008 compared to August 2007, enough to give them the first and second place slots as the most-viewed new vehicles on AutoTrader.com according to the just released August 2008 AutoTrader.com TrendEngine report.
Views for cars on AutoTrader.com generally increased year-over-year from 2007, and despite dropping gas prices, trucks largely continued the downward trend in views begun earlier this year.
The full-size Ford F-150 pick-up was one of the few trucks to show signs of improvement, with an uptick of 18.45% in views as consumers searched for deals. Ford is currently offering sizable incentives on remaining 2008 F-150 inventory in preparation for the September launch of an all-new 2009 model.
Compact crossovers -- car-based vehicles designed to offer a higher driving position without the drawbacks of truck-based vehicles -- had seen their sales suffering alongside traditional SUVs during this past June and July. August saw the beginning of a rebound for these vehicles, as was evidenced by the 7.12% year-over-year increase in views for the Honda CR-V and the 19.36% year-over-year increase in views for the Toyota RAV4.
"Though much has been made of the rise of small cars, the biggest beneficiaries of rising gas prices have been midsize sedans and compact crossovers, the latter having served to replace the traditional family station wagon and larger SUVs," said AutoTrader.com President and CEO Chip Perry. "As manufacturers reallocate resources away from full-size pick-ups and traditional SUVs, our market demand data suggests they would be wise to pay the most attention to these vehicles which make up the heart of the market."
Among smaller cars, two larger gainers were the Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, both of which continued to enjoy the success of recent redesigns. The Corolla improved its position on the most-viewed list from 12th in August 2007 to 7th this year, with views up 43%, while the Focus moved from 32nd to 19th, as views increased 63% in August 2008 compared to August 2007.
"Today's compact cars offer significantly more in terms of value, features and, most importantly, space, than what consumers traditionally think of when they consider 'small' cars," said Perry. "The most popular vehicles in this segment, such as the Civic, Corolla and Focus, offer an ideal mix of room and comfort for not only single people, but even small families."
The new Chevy Malibu continues to also generate dramatic interest. In August '08, views of the Malibu were up 279% compared to views in August 07, following on a 293% surge in views of the Malibu in July '08 compared to July '07. This car continues to benefit from strong marketing and consumer interest.
Truck Resale Values Continue to Plummet
The used car market continued to show overall softness, especially in terms of pick-up trucks and SUVs. While the asking prices among cars in the top 20 most-viewed used vehicles were generally flat, or in the case of the small cars such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, up slightly, truck asking prices recorded double-digit year-over-year declines. The asking price for used Ford F-150s took the largest hit, recording a drop of 17.56%, or $3,479 on average. The once-popular Chevrolet Tahoe was also not immune, with asking prices for used versions of the full-size SUV dropping 17.26%, or $4,104 on average.
"For buyers who need a pick-up or SUV, whether for work or for personal use, this is definitely a great time to buy," added Perry. "Manufacturers are offering strong incentives on new trucks, while records of inventories for used models allow consumers the chance to score a truly great deal."
A "view" on AutoTrader.com is the display of the details page of a specific automobile, which includes information, photographs and contact information for that vehicle, and is thus a stronger indication of consumer interest in that model than searching broadly for information on that make and model.
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Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors Acquires The Retreat at Peachtree City in Peachtree City, Ga.
PRNewswire/ -- Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors, LLC today announced it has acquired The Retreat at Peachtree City, a 312-unit multifamily community in the Atlanta suburb of Peachtree City, on behalf of tenant-in-common investors.
Situated on nearly 26 acres, the approximately 306,000-square-foot property consists of 15 residential buildings and a separate building that houses the clubhouse and leasing center. Built in 1998, The Retreat at Peachtree City features numerous community amenities, including a swimming pool, lighted tennis court, fitness center, storage units, executive business center and direct access to a 90-mile walking and golf cart trail. The property offers spacious floor plans and an average unit size of approximately 980 square feet. Select units feature full-size washers and dryers, linen closets, wood burning fireplaces, and recessed art niches. The property offers tenants ample parking and is currently approximately 94 percent occupied.
"The property's location in a thriving submarket, as well as the asset's outstanding amenities makes The Retreat at Peachtree City an attractive addition to our portfolio of assets under management," said Jeff Hanson, President and Chief Investment Officer of Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors.
In the last decade, the Atlanta metropolitan area's population increased by approximately 40 percent to more than 5.1 million people. The property is located in the South Fulton submarket, which led Atlanta in apartment rent growth in 2007 with a 4.6 percent increase. According to Reis Inc., this submarket includes 29,550 multifamily units and will add minimal new inventory during the next five years, an average of approximately 356 units per year through 2012. The rental growth is projected by Reis to continue at an average rate of 2.9 percent for the next five years.
Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors purchased The Retreat at Peachtree City from a joint venture between AMLI Residential and Prudential, which was represented by Engler Financial Group. Financing was provided by Teacher's Insurance and Annuity Association, arranged by Capstone Realty Advisors.
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LATINA Style Applauds Aflac for Its Commitment to Workforce Diversity
/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has been recognized among the corporate elite in the 2008 LATINA Style 50 Report, which sets the standard for corporate America's sensitivity to Latinas' needs and goals in the workplace identifying companies that provide the best career opportunities for Latinas in the United States.
This year, the magazine's annual awards ceremony will celebrate its 11- year anniversary and honor the LATINA Style 50 companies during a Diversity Leaders Conference on February 5, 2009, in Washington, D.C.
"It is a great honor for the Aflac family to be recognized among LATINA Style's 50 best companies in America for the ninth year," said Brenda Mullins, second vice president and diversity officer for Aflac Human Resources. "We value our talented and diverse workforce and pride ourselves in creating an environment that fosters career advancement opportunities for all our employees."
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Wednesday, September 3, 2008
World Airways Operates MD-11 Freighter for Air France
PRNewswire/ -- World Airways has signed a contract with Air France to operate one MD-11F on a full-time basis for service from France to a variety of destinations in North Africa and a weekly flight to Brazil. World Airways began operating the aircraft for Air France on Aug. 31, 2008. This is the second consecutive year that World Airways has provided a freighter aircraft to help Air France meet its African market requirements.
"Air France is a leader in the airline industry, and we are pleased with the opportunity to partner with them for an MD-11F to help meet their cargo lift requirements," said Jeff Sanborn, chief marketing officer.
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