Zoots Corp. warns of impending layoffs

Zoots Corp. will likely close a dry cleaning production facility in early February, laying off about 80 workers.

[pwilson]

I used them once. They lost six of my very expensive business shirts. That was the last time I used them.Their workers are under paid.

[Connecticut Sam]

These workers need to be pay more. Yes, it is a sad day for all dry clean workers everwhere.

[The amazing Superman]

Is Governor Rell ordering flags in the State to be flown at half mast?

[Chris in Bpt]

I worked at a dry cleaners once, it really sucked. The perc. fumes give you cancer.

[Peter]

Zoot's is rumored to have a $15 million balloon payment due at the end of March, and all their sites in Mass & elsewhere will be done by then. They have engaged Matrix Capital to sell off any/every business unit they can, so finding these employees jobs elsewhere is a joke. All of their business units lose money with the exception of their Ohio based chain they bought that operates under the name Widmer's - they don't want anybody (esp. Fortune magazine who laughingly gave them recognition as a "green" company) to know they use Perc at their Widmer's units. They have lost over $160,000,000 in eight years, because their ownership and management had Harvard MBA's but no brains or common business sense.

[Peter]

Sorry, that was Inc. Magazine who ate everything Zoots fed them.

[ConnPost]

Connecticut Sam wrote:

AVA & MIRANDA & I
We enjoy having sex with women.

How is this post writing about Zoots Corp. warning of impending layoffs?

This is not what these boards are for.

[Chris in Bpt]

ConnPost wrote:

<quoted text>
How is this post writing about Zoots Corp. warning of impending layoffs?
This is not what these boards are for.

Uh-Oh Sam, now you got the editor mad.

[Newton]

WOW Peter, That sounds like you must have an inside track to the workings of ZOOTS. Did you work there before?

Peter wrote:

Zoot's is rumored to have a $15 million balloon payment due at the end of March, and all their sites in Mass & elsewhere will be done by then. They have engaged Matrix Capital to sell off any/every business unit they can, so finding these employees jobs elsewhere is a joke. All of their business units lose money with the exception of their Ohio based chain they bought that operates under the name Widmer's - they don't want anybody (esp. Fortune magazine who laughingly gave them recognition as a "green" company) to know they use Perc at their Widmer's units. They have lost over $160,000,000 in eight years, because their ownership and management had Harvard MBA's but no brains or common business sense.

[BOB]

WAAAAH!

[f--k zoots]

they have illegal immigrant workers at the main plant in brockton, ma. someone should look into that.

[Rick]

As a former employee of zoots lemme tell you they have alot of issues. They under pay everyone they employ well for the exception of the big wigs. I have seen things there that are just insane and i know they are closing alot of stores some have already closed i know in New Hampshire both the stores closed recently which is sad for the people who have been with the company for a long time. In my opinion i think zoots is on its last legs but for the people that work for them currently i hope thats not the case.

[f--k zoots]

their main issue is management, change that and they might live a little longer. they might be good business ppl but they dont know jack sh*t about logistics. i worked in the brockton plant and trust me that is the case. they're down to 1 shift now instead of 2. word is they're close 10 to 15 more stores within the month. which means the laying off or firing of 5 to 8 drivers. they work those ppl so hard and the sad part is they dont know any better they need their money.

[Rick]

I have seen the brockton plant and how they dont lose more things than they do is truely amazing. I saw the plant and was in awe how much of a disaster area it was. I am not surprised at all by more store closings but i feel bad for the layoffs/firings because alot of the drivers have been on there routes for a long time. I agree with the whole pi** poor management they have there heads stuck in the clouds. i knew they were in trouble money wise but i didnt know the exact logistics of it and from what i have heard its pretty bad. Any idea on what other stores are shutting down?

[unemployed now thx zoots]

Rick wrote:

. Any idea on what other stores are shutting down?

6-8 Massachusetts stores were shut down as of 3/1/08
but who's counting ;)

[f--k zoots]

2 in Quincy and Stoughton those are the ones i know of. i did hotel delivery so i dont many of the stores.

[Rick]

So that's 6-8 stores in mass add the other 2 in new hampshire that are gone. Its sad i feel bad for the drivers at these stores and for the store employees. Management finally is getting the brunt of what there actions have done do they care? Probably not but from my standpoint they got knocked right off there high horse but look who suffers for it not them of course least not yet anyway. Ever since the other ceo left its gone down hill quicker thats for sure.

[Peter]

Zoots "sold" all their stores in CT (gave them away) and sold their profitable Widmers (Ohio) unit to the management of Widmers. They have now completely left OH, CT, NH, NJ, and NY. They are only in MA, RI, and VA - expect those units to close by the end of March. Anyone who thought their concept or ideas ever worked is wrong: they were a failure from the get-go. Because Charlesbank Capital and J.P. Morgan were willing to pony up $160 million for the first eight years, then sell their shares back to the company for only $3 million back in 2007, the company was able to survive the inadequacies of their management. Tom Stemberg had his success with Staples, after that? Zoots: failure. KaBloom: failure. Ollie Shoes: failure. Staples.com : farce that got him booted from Staples. Fortunately he has his Harvard buddies to give him a job, who else would?

[f--k zoots]

drove by the stoughton store today and saw a sign from another dryclean company just down the street offering 30% off all drycleaning LOL

[Echo]

Did the manager seem to have the same shirt size as you, pwilson?

pwilson wrote:

I used them once. They lost six of my very expensive business shirts. That was the last time I used them.Their workers are under paid.