Outlook Group Cuts Staff, Buys Direct Market Firm

NEENAH, WIS.—Outlook Group Corp., a provider of printing, packaging, and direct marketing services, reduced its work force by 12%, eliminating 50 positions at its graphics facility and 12 jobs at its web operation nearby. After the reductions, Outlook Group, with annual sales of $71 million, has about 505 people—380 at its graphics facility and 125 at its web plant.

Outlook Graphics also announced its acquisition of the assets and operations of Paragon Direct, Inc., Milwaukee, a provider of computer-based information management services for clients in the direct marketing industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"The continuing soft economy, both in our industry and in the Fox Valley, has impacted our operations throughout the past year. While we held off [on downsizing] as long as we could, we are now in a position where we must realign staffing levels to be consistent with our current and anticipated levels of activity," explains Joseph J. Baksha, Outlook Group's president and chief operating officer.

He continues, "As an employee-focused company, this was a difficult decision. We were able to maintain our employment levels considerably longer than many others in our business, but ultimately, we too had to make work force adjustments based on economic conditions."

Baksha adds, "The acquisition of the Paragon Direct operations strengthens our direct marketing capabilities and enhances the value we offer our clients as a single-source supplier for their complete printing, packaging, and direct mail projects. The Paragon Direct operations expand our capabilities with sophisticated 'front-end' mailing and database management that is an increasingly important component of today's direct marketing programs."

Paragon Direct customizes direct marketing systems for business-to-business catalog companies, commercial printers, and other businesses.