Blackwell will close in Lake Oswego, eliminating 139 jobs | Oregon Business News - OregonLive.com

Blackwell North America gave me one of my first jobs in the book business, and I am sorry to see them go. More importantly, I am sorry to see the unhealthy trend toward consolidation in the industry.


Blackwell will close in Lake Oswego, eliminating 139 jobs | Oregon Business News - OregonLive.com: "Blackwell will close in Lake Oswego, eliminating 139 jobs
By Ted Sickinger, The Oregonian
December 08, 2009, 6:49PM

A day after completing its acquisition of Blackwell North America, Charlotte-based book and multimedia distributor Baker & Taylor Inc. said it will shut Blackwell's customer service and sales operation in Lake Oswego and eventually eliminate 139 jobs.

Oregon's Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development received an official Warn Act notice of the layoffs on Tuesday.

The layoffs will begin Feb. 7, the company said in the notification.

The layoffs stem from a business swap in which Baker & Taylor acquired the U.S. and Australian operations of Blackwell United Kingdom and Blackwell acquired Baker & Taylor's Lindsay and Croft business in Britain.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Neither company returned calls seeking comments.

Blackwell's U.S. operations, including its sales and customer service office in Lake Oswego, will now be managed by Baker & Taylor's YBP Library Services. The Lake Oswego functions will be handled out of YBP's office in New Hampshire."