New Berlin-based BuySeasons Inc., an online retailer and supplier of costumes, accessories and party supplies, issued layoff notices last week to between 90 and 100 employees, according to sources.
Holly Botsford, public relations manager for BuySeasons, acknowledged that the company issued layoff notices Wednesday to some full-time and part-time employees across all departments. She declined to disclose the specific number of layoffs, but said “less than 100” employees are being laid off.
The layoffs went into effect Wednesday, Botsford said.
The company has a large number of seasonal and part-time employees, but sources said a substantial number of the employees that received layoff notices are full-time employees. Some of the employees have been with the company for more than 10 years, sources said. The company was founded in 1999.
The layoffs included the entire customer service department, sources said.
“(BuySeasons has) reorganized to better position the company to respond to current demand and growth in our year-round party and costume businesses,” Botsford said.
In January, chief executive officer Dan Haight left the company and was replaced by Dev Mukherjee, who had been a senior vice president in Sears Holdings Corp.’s home appliances division.
BuySeasons has traditionally hired hundreds of seasonal employees each year between July and November to accommodate the influx of costume and party favor demands. The company will continue to hire seasonal help despite these layoffs, Botsford said.
