AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT FANATICS

Jacksonville, Florida-based Fanatics, a portfolio company focused on licensed sports apparel, trading cards, and sports collectibles, has announced it will close its Oak Creek Distribution Center in Riverview, Florida, in 2026.

The closure will affect 286 employees, with job terminations starting March 2026 and continuing through July 31, 2026.

According to a company statement, “As our business has grown and our operational needs have evolved, the facility can no longer support the scale, technology, and innovation required to meet our long-term goals.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT FOX RIVER MILLS

Osage, Iowa-based Fox River Mills, the oldest continuing operating manufacturer of specialty and high-quality socks in the United States, has announced the closure of its Osage, Iowa, manufacturing facility on October 10, 2025.

The closure will see the layoff of all employees, estimated at 105 workers.

No detailed public explanation has been provided in news reports or official statements for why Fox River Mills is closing its Osage manufacturing facility.

Globalization and the expansion of offshoring have significantly harmed the U.S. textile industry. Over the past few decades, jobs in textile and apparel manufacturing have plummeted, with employment falling by nearly two-thirds as production moved to countries offering cheaper labor and lower production costs.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT RENFRO BRANDS (11/11/25)

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 — PLANT CLOSING

The company plans to shutter its knitting and finishing plant in Fort Payne, Alabama.

460 employees will be impacted, with layoffs scheduled for December 27, 2025.

A company spokesperson noted, “Over the next several months, we will be consolidating much of our domestic manufacturing into our Cleveland, Tennessee, facility. Current Ft. Payne employees will receive priority consideration for new positions being created in Tennessee.”

APRIL 17, 2024 — Original post…

Mount Airy, North Carolina-based Renfro Brands, a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of quality socks and legwear, has announced a reduction-in-force at its Fort Payne, Alabama, manufacturing facility.

The personnel realignment will impact 100 employees and is scheduled for April 12, 2024.

According to a company spokesperson, "The Company will be consolidating its Ft. Payne manufacturing efforts and changing its manufacturing shifts to better align with meeting customer and product needs and supporting a healthier balance for employees’ lifestyles."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?