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Encore Group purchases Russ Berrie gift division

Formal introductions to be made this month during winter gift shows

-- Casual Living, 1/7/2009 7:49:00 AM

The Encore Group, a diversified gift and specialty marketing company, has purchased the gift division of Russ Berrie Company, forming a new corporate entity, The Russ Companies, with offices in the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, China and South Korea and subsidiaries in smaller markets.

The combined companies will market consumer gift products through multiple channels of distribution, with trade names appropriate to each channel. A newly combined sales force is now selling the Russ line with formal introductions taking place this month during the winter gift markets.

“We believe this business is an excellent strategic fit for Encore with our complementary product lines and distribution channels,” said Eldridge “Redge” Hanes, Encore chairman. “We anticipate significant cross-selling opportunities as we integrate the expertise of Russ with plush product and international marketing with existing Encore focus on the hard goods giftware product. The creation of a new gift corporation featuring the Russ name and fueled with the joint dynamics of the Encore Group and traditions of Russ Berrie Company will bring a vital new leader to the gift industry.”

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Here it is June 2009 and this company is still in the dog house . Encore has moved into the Cranbury NJ facility and brough along some of there staff from NC. Not as friendly as they were when visiting before the sale. Tons of glitches new system Apprise not the best or should I say the worst system to work on to slow inventory lost and no true direction from the management. Orders being canceled can only get out a day $130,000 not enough since this company needs to make 6 million for the month of June. Russ employees leaving meeting telling employees if we do not star shipping we will close by July keep your fingers crossed there is enough job loss around the country we do not need anymore. I am a long time employee in a company going down.

Anonymous - 2009-06-06 20:26:00 EDT

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