Steelcase Customer Order Delays Hurt Sales; French Plant Transfer
Steelcase to Close High Point Furniture Plant, 230 Layoffs

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Business furniture manufacturer Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS) reported third quarter revenue of $800 million, and net income of $11.8 million - up only slightly from the 2014 period.

Steelcase Customer Order Delays Hurt Sales; French Plant TransferResults were dragged down by delays in projects shipped to customers in the Americas, where revenue slipped $3.2 million, to $555.3 million, versus the year ago quarter.

Steelcase says orders in Europe, Middle East and Asian Markets (EMEA) grew approximately 1 percent in the period; while the Americas segment had a strong order backlog at the end of the third quarter.

"The timing of the Thanksgiving holiday relative to the end of our fiscal quarter had a negative impact on the year-over-year comparisons for both orders and revenue," says Steelcase CEO Jim Keane. "We remain optimistic about our ability to continue to grow Americas revenue," Keane said, noting, "Year-over-year revenue comparison was negatively impacted by customer requests for extended delivery dates, which were much higher than historical averages."

Steelcase also had to bear restructuring costs of $37.4 million in the current quarter, most of it related to the transfer of a manufacturing facility in Wisches, France to a third party. The transfer included a $27.3 million payment which was recorded in restructuring costs. "The transfer of our Wisches facility represents a major step towards reducing excess manufacturing capacity," says Dave Sylvester, CFO.

here's the process I'm think:

 

1. Outbound newsletter promotion one version of copy

2. Links back to A and B  versions splash page based an two nth selection lists of 2,000 names each:

  1.  Early Edition descriptions, image offers (A$5 a month,  B $15 month) 
  2. Terms: try 30-day no risk offer, we will beginning billing after 30 days and respondent pays to continue; or says "No Thanks"
  3. Response form, credit card opt-in to receive it
  4. Captured list is fulfilled for 30 days
  5. After 30 days confirming e-make verifies we will begin billing the card.
  6. Based on response at step 3, we determine:
  •  
    • whether to roll-out
    • and whether to actually bill those initial buyers
    • Workflow for early edition recipients

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