Cutbacks at Coty, Inc.

As employees at the Coty facility in Rocky Point left work for the day, they likely had one thing on their minds; they will soon be leaving for good. General Manager for Coty’s two local facilities, Cary Newman, echoes what we have been hearing all too often recently. “We have been struggling with very challenging economic times,” he described.

More than 500 Coty employees learned Thursday they will lose their jobs. “As one of those employees, I can tell you that Coty will be doing everything possible to transition to their futures and land on their feet,” Newman said.

Coty manufactures and distributes cosmetic products for Sally Hansen and New York Color Nail lines. A returns processing center and promotional assembly center in Leland will be completely shut down by December 31st, and in Rocky Point, manufacturing will gradually be shut down over the next year. Distribution will continue for the time being.

The closures will be a big blow to the local economy, and heavily shape unemployment numbers. In March, Brunswick and Pender county’s unemployment rates were 11.4 percent.

“The thing I feel most is real empathy for so many people that are really talented that have done really great work here and really it has nothing to do with their work or their effort that we are where we are today, so that hurts,” added Newman.

Newman said career counseling and career fairs will be offered to the employees, as will generous severance packages.

Coty has been in Rocky Point since 1997.