Bon-Ton invests in growing e-commerce business

The Bon-Ton Stores is investing in its growing e-commerce business. The company has signed a lease with Duke Realty Corp for a 743,000-sq.-ft., automated, direct-to-consumer fulfillment center in West Jefferson, Ohio.



The company expects the facility to be fully operational and ship its first orders in spring of 2015.



The new facility will consolidate the e-commerce fulfillment that is currently being performed at Bon-Ton’s four distribution centers. When fully operational, the fulfillment center will employ approximately 139 net new Ohio associates, with additional seasonal jobs expected to be created during the peak holiday shopping season.



“In response to the rapid growth in our e-commerce business, we are taking this step to ensure extraordinary service to our customers,” said president and CEO Brendan Hoffman. “This new fulfillment center will permit significant expansion of our shipping capacity with improved operational efficiency.”



The consolidation will impact associates involved in the direct-to-consumer fulfillment at the company’s four distribution centers. Affected associates will be offered the opportunity to interview for available positions at the new West Jefferson facility or receive career transition benefits, including severance, according to established practices and state employment service support. Bon-Ton does not expect that the combined severance and other expenses associated with the consolidation, which it expects to incur during the next 16 months, will be material.