Wilson County direct mail plant closes

ELM CITY — Company officials say 380 workers are losing their jobs because a plant that develops direct mail advertising in a small North Carolina town is closing.

Officials handed out notices Thursday at IWCO Direct in the Wilson County town of Elm City. The workers earned between $9 and $25 an hour and were given 60 days severance pay.

The company’s Debora Haskel said the plant was closing because fewer companies are sending brochures because of the ailing economy. Haskel said the closing “is completely market driven.”

IWCO Direct bought the plant last year from Cox Target Media. IWCO said it is moving its operations to Minnesota and continues to send 200 million mailings a month.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)