Barth Dreyfuss cuts sales exec and position

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 4/9/2001 12:00:00 AM

LOS ANGELES — In an effort to realign its sales department, Barth and Dreyfuss of California has eliminated its New York-based post of senior vp, merchandising and sales. And with its closure, Russell Holbrook, who held the post for the past six years, was recently laid off from the company.

"I'm hoping to find a new job now in the industry," said Holbrook, who is based in Connecticut. "I have 20 years experience in home textiles, and I'm looking to stay in the industry."

Denise Matlack, sales manager for bath fashions, explained that the company changed the focus of its sales team.

"It's now more marketing-specialized," Matlack said. "Instead of dividing it up regionally, we are now dividing it up by store type. It's the way the industry is moving."

Barth and Dreyfuss, a manufacturer of kitchen, table and bath textiles and decorative pillows, continues to have only two top executives managing its sales team. Neil Bevis, based on the East Coast (with offices in Massachusetts and New York), is a sales representative and Howard Galperson, based here, is senior vp, national accounts.