VF Corporation Plans To Close Williamson-Dickie EMEA Business

News has reached the Insight DIY offices of the proposed closure of the EMEA Williamson-Dickie Workwear business.

The following text is from a letter sent to suppliers regarding the plan:

Dear Supplier

I am writing to you to inform you that Williamson-Dickie’s owner VF Corporation is proposing to discontinue and wind up the Williamson-Dickie business in EMEA.

I appreciate this disappointing news will come as a surprise, so I wanted to share this update to you at the earliest opportunity – the same day as our staff have been told.

Below is a short summary of what has been announced today and what it means for you in the short-term.

• VF is proposing to discontinue and wind up the EMEA Williamson-Dickie Workwear business in its current locations of the UK, France, Germany and the UAE
  
  
• This proposal follows a thorough review of the current business model of Williamson-Dickie Workwear in EMEA. It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but the Williamson-Dickie Workwear EMEA business model is not in line with financial performance expectations
  
  
• This proposal is subject to a period of consultation for the affected staff, so the final decision will be taken when this is completed around mid-November

• Should the proposal be adopted, the full business would shut down by the 31st of March 2021.

Subject to market developments, and in any case not earlier than April 2021, VF proposes to start a new business for the ‘Dickies Workwear’ brand, predominantly focused on digital.  Any new business for the ‘Dickies Workwear’ brand would be managed out of VF International Headquarters in Stabio (Switzerland). 

Based on current proposals, the new business would leverage existing expertise at VF International Headquarters in Stabio. We think the proposals will allow the brand to capture front-office synergies, particularly with the direct to consumer, digital and distribution platforms that exist within our EMEA business and move the company towards its preferred model predominantly focused on digital (it is not proposed that the new business would have any retail stores).

Our business will continue to operate as normal during this process. If you are a customer you can continue to place orders, pay your invoices, and liaise with your Customer Services or Credit representative as usual. If you are a supplier, we will continue to make payments for your invoices for confirmed goods or services. 

I will of course share more information with you as it becomes available over the coming weeks and months, and I promise we will do everything we can to minimise any disruption this will cause to you.

Finally, I would like to thank you personally for your partnership and custom with Williamson-Dickie Workwear EMEA.

Yours faithfully,
Tom Rossi
Director – Williamson-Dickie Workwear EMEA

Source : Insight DIY Team

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