American Greetings in deal with Amscan; to close plant, cut about 225 facility-related jobs

American Greetings to shut plant, eliminate jobs

CLEVELAND — American Greetings says it has reached a deal with party goods maker Amscan and will stop making its own party goods. The move will result in a plant closing and about 225 facility-related job cuts.

American Greetings will shut its Kalamazoo, Mich. plant, with manufacturing expected to end in April, says spokewoman Patrice Sadd. The company will make a decision by the end of February regarding when distribution will wind down.

The Kalamazoo facility employs 225 people. Sadd says approximately 12 jobs will also be eliminated from its Cleveland headquarters. All the positions are expected to be phased out between December and March.

American Greetings says the Amscan deal allows it to offer a larger variety of party goods products to retail partners.