North Bergen distributor to close its doors
103 layoffs expected for 60-year-old office equipment company Emco
A 60-year-old North Bergen-based office wholesale company, Action Emco Distribution, said that it will lay off 103 employees on Oct. 19 and close its distribution center at 5601 West Side Ave.
The company was acquired by United Stationary Inc. for $15 million on Aug. 20. CEO and President Mike Maggio said that because United Stationary already has a distribution center in Cranbury, N.J., their North Bergen location will no longer be needed.
Maggio said that the company has been struggling in a competitive market for some time, and that the layoffs are not a shock to the employees.
"While everyone is disheartened, I don't think anyone was surprised," he said.
The company also has a Michigan distribution center that was sold in an unrelated deal to Atlanta-based Genuine Parts Co.
Maggio said that they have been trying to find other jobs for the employees, as are union representatives from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
Employees were given notice in accordance to the federal WARN Act., which requires employers to give a 60-day notice of job reductions, Maggio said.
"[Our employees] are handing it as well as can be expected," said Maggio. "We always had a policy of being as honest as possible."
Still work to be done
Emco sells office supplies, from snacks to paper products, to companies that resell these items to offices.
While their North Bergen distribution center will be closing in less than two months, they must still transport their goods to United Stationary's facility in Cranbury, along with customer lists and account information.
Maggio said they have an entire warehouse of goods to be shipped.
Quality Assurance Manager Maritza Caicedo of Hackensack said that she enjoyed working at the company. She was in charge of inventory and quality control. She makes sure that everything involving the quality and shipping of items is up to par.
Originally from Ecuador, Caicedo she started the job six years ago. Emco is the only company she has worked for since being in the United States, and she does not know what she will do when they close their doors in October.
"They were really trying to do their best," Caicedo said.
She said she will have to do what everyone else - including Maggio - is being forced to do in October: move on.
Caicedo remained adamant in her support of Emco. "This is the best company," she said.
Small company in a big market
Maggio, who became CEO five years ago after being in a senior sales position, said that the company was small in comparison to their competitors, and that they had been struggling for some time.
Maggio said that their truck drivers will be among the hardest hit, because United Stationary has their own functioning distribution center and thus will not need them.
Emco will also have to try and find someone to sublet their grounds, since their lease ends in 2014, said Maggio. He said breaking the lease early was not an option.
"We have great people, a good union, all the way we had a really good relationship with them," said Maggio. "We're in a very competitive business, and the economy has an impact on everything."
He said that unfortunately, the competitive market was "just too big" for them.
Comments can be sent to TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.
A 60-year-old North Bergen-based office wholesale company, Action Emco Distribution, said that it will lay off 103 employees on Oct. 19 and close its distribution center at 5601 West Side Ave.
The company was acquired by United Stationary Inc. for $15 million on Aug. 20. CEO and President Mike Maggio said that because United Stationary already has a distribution center in Cranbury, N.J., their North Bergen location will no longer be needed.
Maggio said that the company has been struggling in a competitive market for some time, and that the layoffs are not a shock to the employees.
"While everyone is disheartened, I don't think anyone was surprised," he said.
The company also has a Michigan distribution center that was sold in an unrelated deal to Atlanta-based Genuine Parts Co.
Maggio said that they have been trying to find other jobs for the employees, as are union representatives from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
Employees were given notice in accordance to the federal WARN Act., which requires employers to give a 60-day notice of job reductions, Maggio said.
"[Our employees] are handing it as well as can be expected," said Maggio. "We always had a policy of being as honest as possible."
Still work to be done
Emco sells office supplies, from snacks to paper products, to companies that resell these items to offices.
While their North Bergen distribution center will be closing in less than two months, they must still transport their goods to United Stationary's facility in Cranbury, along with customer lists and account information.
Maggio said they have an entire warehouse of goods to be shipped.
Quality Assurance Manager Maritza Caicedo of Hackensack said that she enjoyed working at the company. She was in charge of inventory and quality control. She makes sure that everything involving the quality and shipping of items is up to par.
Originally from Ecuador, Caicedo she started the job six years ago. Emco is the only company she has worked for since being in the United States, and she does not know what she will do when they close their doors in October.
"They were really trying to do their best," Caicedo said.
She said she will have to do what everyone else - including Maggio - is being forced to do in October: move on.
Caicedo remained adamant in her support of Emco. "This is the best company," she said.
Small company in a big market
Maggio, who became CEO five years ago after being in a senior sales position, said that the company was small in comparison to their competitors, and that they had been struggling for some time.
Maggio said that their truck drivers will be among the hardest hit, because United Stationary has their own functioning distribution center and thus will not need them.
Emco will also have to try and find someone to sublet their grounds, since their lease ends in 2014, said Maggio. He said breaking the lease early was not an option.
"We have great people, a good union, all the way we had a really good relationship with them," said Maggio. "We're in a very competitive business, and the economy has an impact on everything."
He said that unfortunately, the competitive market was "just too big" for them.
Comments can be sent to TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.
Labels: Emco, layoffs, New Jersey
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