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Company might lease back smaller portion of facility or relocate operations nearby
By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Saturday, Jan 19, 2008
The 122 acres and seven buildings in Hudson currently owned by Little Tikes are up for sale.
In a press release Friday, company officials said the complex off Barlow Road was too large for its current needs.
''We will be seeking to either occupy a smaller portion of this facility (sale and lease back) or relocate to a facility in a nearby area better suited to our current production needs,'' Tom Prichard, executive vice president of Little Tikes, said in a statement. A spokesman for MGA Entertainment, the Van Nuys, Calif., maker of Bratz dolls, which purchased Little Tikes in 2006, said the company had no further comment.
But whether that means the whole company or only part will be staying in Hudson or Ohio is unclear.
Hudson's Mayor Bill Currin and Economic Development Director Jody Roberts both said they had not been in contact with MGA Entertainment. City, regional and state officials have been trying for more than a year to convince the owner to retain the operations in Hudson.
''I take that statement for what it is. I don't know what they're doing,'' said Currin.
Currin said the company has indicated it was interested in moving production to Mexico, but Currin and Roberts said they have received no notification from the company.
Roberts said the company has indicated for some time that the facility is too large for its needs. But Roberts said she's unsure whether the statement means they will be keeping all of their current production and staff or only some.
''Hudson, economically, we're doing well. We've got a lot of companies coming in, staying and expanding. While we really don't want to lose Little Tikes, we could certainly help them stay in a smaller scale or find someone for the building,'' she said.
In June, the company eliminated about 50 administrative jobs at Little Tikes' Hudson headquarters. At the time, company officials said that would leave about 350 hourly production employees and 110 in marketing, research and design.
The rotational mold plant makes about 200 of Little Tikes' larger products, such as play kitchens, cars and outdoor playhouses. The Hudson facility is also a distribution center in the United States for other products.
Company officials have been frustrated, saying state incentives seek to grow or recruit jobs, not keep current employers.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
The 122 acres and seven buildings in Hudson currently owned by Little Tikes are up for sale.
Get the full article here.
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