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J. Cross Marketing closes its Bitterroot offices

A telemarketing business closed its Hamilton and Lolo locations Wednesday, telling employees they could work instead at the company’s Missoula call center.

By BUDDY SMITH Ravalli Republic Staff Reporter

A memo to employees at J. Cross Marketing in Hamilton and the Lolo location said the closure of the two sites is the result of a consolidation effort that folds them into the Missoula location.

The Hamilton site employed about 40 people with two shifts, said an employee who added he was "floored" by the unexpected news.

A woman at the company’s Missoula office said a J. Cross Marketing representative had traveled to Hamilton to meet with employees that afternoon about the announcement and was unavailable for comment.

To employees the Republic spoke with, the news came as a surprise.

A handful of them who arrived at the site off U.S. 93 after 1:30 p.m., for what one of them said was to be a training session before the shift, found only the memo posted on the door and a reporter asking questions.

The letter did not explain the reason for the consolidation, but said all employees would be given a chance to work at the Missoula center starting that day. The telemarketing business expanded to Hamilton in 2001.

The memo from Andy Nelson said Cross Media Marketing, which has offices in New York, will be consolidating its Montana operations effective April 30.

"This consolidation will mean the closure of both our Hamilton and Lolo locations," the memo said. "… You are a valued member of our Montana team and we are hopeful you will strongly consider a transfer to the Missoula operation. For those accepting a position in Missoula you can report to work there today after meeting with your local management team. For those employees who choose to leave Cross Media rather than transfer, you will be paid through today for your services to date."

The memo said those who elect not to transfer would be contacted by mail with information relating to their final paycheck and benefit continuation.

"We appreciate the efforts and contributions that you have made to our Montana operations," the memo continued. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with you in Missoula. For those that will not be able to join us, we wish you well in your future endeavors."

A phone number to contact was included. It was unclear how many would elect to transfer to the Missoula call center or when employees were to meet with local management that day.

Those employees who pulled into the parking lot and read the memo outside the building before 2 p.m. Wednesday were caught off guard, saying it was the first they’d heard of the company’s consolidation effort. A few read it, then left, saying they would have to decide what to do, since to continue working for the company would mean driving to Missoula.

Mike Gates said he has worked at the job only a short time after breaking his arm in his usual occupation, construction. He took down a phone number printed on the memo.

"We’ll see what happens," he said, when asked if he would transfer to Missoula.

An employee said the business ran an afternoon and morning shift with from 15 to 20 people on each shift. He said he sold magazine subscription offers. Recently the company offered jobs to start at $7 an hour.

One woman, who asked not to be identified, said she’d heard rumors within the business that the location would close this spring, but was told not to spread them, she said.

Another woman showed up for her first day of work. She had a completed application in hand. She also took down the number on the memo.

"I don’t know," she said. "(I’ll) call this number and see what’s going on."

J. Cross Marketing started as a joint venture between Cross Media Marketing and JWE Enterprises, Inc., and focused on telemarketing magazine and other products and services. A May 2002 press release said the company completed an acquisition of JWE Enterprises.

An attempt to reach Cross Media’s corporate offices was unsuccessful.

Reporter Buddy Smith can be reached at 363-3300 or [email protected].

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