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Knoxville Question: Goody's family clothing closing?

Knoxville question: Have you heard if Goody's Family Clothing is closing?

Knoxville Business Answer: Though I hadn't heard that Goody's was closing at the time this question was asked, we have since learned that Goody's Family Clothing is -- according to multiple sources, including the New York Post -- going into liquidation.

My sympathies with everyone at Goody's -- I know a lot of you have put your heart and soul into the company.

I'd like to help all laid off employees:

If you'd like to post your resume on Knoxville Business for free, you can post your resume here.

I'll be reaching out to resume writers, HR managers and area employers to see if we can't help you find a job more quickly.

My best wishes to everyone,

Mac B
Knoxville Business

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Knoxville Question: Goody's family clothing closing?

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Mar 05, 2009
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Goody's
by: Brenda

A few of us former gdys folks met for dinner last night at Turkey Creek and a former finance clerk floored me with a comment:

Apparently Goody's was in deeper trouble than we thought BEFORE they supposedly "emerged" from bankrupcy in October.

Even as back as September, checks for goods and service were not being mailed out to vendors in order to "look" like more money was in the bank and therefore could emerge from chap 11. Had goodys held off another week or two from emerging, 9 out of 10 vendors would have reported late payments

Go figure how this would affect their new bankrupcy?

Jan 28, 2009
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Layed Off Employees have Filed CAS
by: Randy

A formal class action suit has been filed in Delaware on behalf of all (approx) 480 employees for wages, benefits, and other considerations.
Anyone not having received the Lawyer Agreement are asked to contact any of the folks that attended the meeting at Shoneys two weeks ago.

Jan 22, 2009
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screw goodys
by: cherie in indiana

my mom was a key carrier for goodys for 9 years and she struggles 2 survive everyday just like all of us, my 55 yr old mom has 2 move in with me her 29 yr old daughter. ive heard alot about the isaac dabba who bought goodys i heard that he regulary does this to the companys he buys runs em 4 awhile then files bankruptcy and takes all the money from the company that it has in profits and puts nothing back into the stores then after another bit of time passes he shuts em down and makes a killing with all his sales and starts over again with another local hometown unsuspecting store. sorry if you dont believe this but its true

Jan 21, 2009
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Employee Meeting at Shoney's on Lovell 1/22 at 11 AM
by: Cherie House

Dear Goody's employees,
I will be meeting with several of the former employees tomorrow morning at 11 AM at the Shoney's on Lovell Road. Steve Peyrot has been kind enough to keep everyone informed of the meeting and as I have informed him, I will be available to hold as many meetings as requested. I want you to know that I'm here for all of you. My 25 years of experience gave me the wisdom to be able to distinguish between what's real and what they (the corporate higher-ups) want us to think is real. Much of what they tell you is a scare tactic just to keep you from taking any action. That's why you need someone affordable on your side and tomorrow I will show you how to do this. I have been the victim of bad things as well and I learned so much from living through it all.

Tomorrow or anytime afterwards, feel free to contact me if you would like to get together or request a time for several people to get together. These meetings will be extremely informal, and you'll have as much time as possible to ask questions. When you leave these meetings you will feel as if a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. I know, I've been there.

Jan 12, 2009
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Can I meet with all of you somewhere?
by: cherie House

I would be glad to come to you and meet with a few of you or several of you if that would help. If any of you are interested in meeting with me and a few others who can help, please call me and we will arrange a time to meet with you all at your convenience.

cherie House

Jan 12, 2009
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PLEASE If you need lawyers, let me help you.
by: Cherie House

I spoke with someone from your HR department on Thursday. She said she would like us to come in if the liquidators would allow us to. If they don't, I'd like to be able to help each one of you whether it be individual lawyers or class action attorneys. We can help each of you explore all your options and instead of paying a big fee for attorneys, we have a very reasonable alternative and in turn, you will get legal help from the top notch attorneys all over the country. This program will also help your entire family with any legal issue they may have other than the Goody's situation. We've discussed these options with so many others and have saved them thousands and in some cases, gotten them money they didn't know they could get. How does less than $30 dollars a month sound on a month to month basis. Use it as long as you need but don't feel trapped. It's there for you as long as you need it. Use it a month and quit if you want to but I think you could use the help for many situations each month.

Please, if you or anyone you know needs help in some form or fashion whether it be bankruptcy, foreclosure, credit card debt, and many other problems, please, please, please, give me 15 minutes to explain how we can help. I'm in Knoxville and I can meet with you anytime, anywhere. My phone number is 865-740-0164. Good luck to you all.
By the way, we're a benefits company and we could use some salespeople who are passionate about helping others. It's a program that very few in TN are aware of but everyone needs.

Call me any time
Cherie House

Jan 12, 2009
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WARN ACT - GOODYS CLASS ACTION
by: Beverly

Does anyone know how the class action suit is going to be handled under the WARN ACT?
Are we ex-employees going to be notified or should we each seek legal help on our own until one attorney gets enough folks to qualify for class action?

Jan 09, 2009
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Do you need help making the transition
by: Cherie Houe

I'm so sorry to hear about all of your job losses. I knew the economy was bad for everyone and just last month, my family and I lost our house but when you see on the news how hundred of people are losing their jobs, something is terribly wrong. I want you all to know that because of our loss, I became affiliated with the law firm that helped us. Not one Knoxville attorney would help us, we have a unique situation, because we have no money. All we needed was some simple questions answered that would have saved us. Unfortunately, if you're not wealthy enough to pay for an attorney, you don't get the justice you deserve. Money talks in Knoxville. It was until I found a group to help me that I got any results at all. It's too late for us, our house is gone and we've lost everything in it. We're virtually starting over in our late 40s. BUT it's NOT too late for me to help everyone else. I want to give you my phone number in case you need some good sound advice about anything legally but can't or don't want to pay for an attorney. Yes, it IS possible and after 25 years as a court reporter in this area, this is truly the answer everyone needs. Follow this website. It's affordable for everyone and can be done on a month-to-month basis. There is no obligation after the first month. You can get alot of answers in one month. Sometimes, that's all you need. Please email me at cherie.house@gmail.com if you would like me to tell you what will help you. And good luck to everyone and if I can help, please let me know.

Jan 08, 2009
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braided emotions
by: Anonymous

I do appologise as well. Emotions run high when faced with hard times and these are the hardest for a lot of people.It's all water under the bridge as far as I am concerned. If we as a working family stand together and help each other out we will be just fine.
Yes you are right I can be a bit of a spit fire and that may one day cause my down fall ha ha. Good luck to you and I hope everything works out with what ever new career you choose or are offered.
Find comfort in the fact that when one door closes another one opens. It may seem like all is lost but in reality this is just one more trial in life to see who can better themselves and rise from the ashes anew.


Jan 08, 2009
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An Apology
by: Braided Emotions

I need to apologize. I don't have any facts to substantiate my thoughts on how corporate workers did this. I am a whirlwind of emotions right now. I need to be a team member and be your friend. So I'm sorry. I have been unhappy in my particular store for a long time. It has nothing to do with people who I have never worked with. So please accept my apologies for being rude. I do not set out to hurt people, I'm just upset with everyone else. You were right I need to grow up. Take care. Good luck with finding a job, don't worry you will be fine. You sound like quite the firecracker. :)

Jan 08, 2009
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Well if your passing the pipe I think I will have a smoke
by: Anonymous

Don't have kids? Hah! Yes I do, and don't talk to me about the stress a job has on family unless you have had to say good bye to your child without knowing if you will ever see them again. That in itself is why I came to work at goody's and I thank god for every day that my job has kept me home with my family instead of overseas somewhere with a semi-automatic weapon. Goody's has offered me a great opportunity and a new trade skill that I can use in a future career. I would like to be bitter for losing my job but what good does that do? Things happen in life that you cannot control, we all have to pick up and move on no matter how hard it is or seems to be.

Good luck to everyone still looking for jobs, I am there with you.

Jan 07, 2009
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Back to Anonymous
by: Braided Emotions

Well then, Mr. or Ms. "Cushy Desk Job" you dont have that job now do you. Besides that, I have talents beyond retail and I will use them. Sorry to have made you think I directed it to you peronally. I dont know who you are or where you worked. I don't need a tissue, all I need is the willpower to be something that helps people and isnt a shallow and pointless retail job. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

PS you obviously don't have kids and/or understand the strains this ridiculous place put on families.

Fire back all you want, you can't hurt my feelings, HA! Heres YOUR tissue now.

Jan 07, 2009
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Former Bham Store Manager
by: Jeremy from Birmingham

I worked for Goodys for 10 years...starting as a part-timer when I was in college at Auburn and worked my way up to store manager of one of the Birmingham stores. Unfornatly my store one was one of the stores that was closed back over the summer. It was one of the hardest periods for me to say goodbye to my second family. I was offered another position within the company but decided to go to a TJX company because I did not feel it was safe to stay with an unstable company. I heard today from someone still within the company that they are closing. I sympathize with the people still with Goodys that I worked with but I do not sympathize with everyone. These people a couple of years ago were brought in to make changes and we all heard it was suppose to be great but it wasnt. Most of these new people came from Kmart, which many people questioned why so many upper management was coming from a company that had itself been in bankruptcy. They got rid of all of the loyal hard working people and replaced them with people from outside that did not know what they were doing. When upper management comes in your store and nothing is right and ridicules everyone and literally goes blah blah blah in your store and tells you that people with long tenure is hurting your bottom line....that is not the Goodys I joined in 98. These people tried to make Goodys a major big department store in which it was not...it was a small local hometown store where you knew your customers by name. Therefore it does not suprise me with the news that Goody's is closing.

Jan 07, 2009
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Kmart mafia
by: Brain cancer

I worked for Goody's 9 years. It was great to go to a place that treated me like family. I was diagnosed with brain cancer and my department stood beside me while I worked from home. Some wks I worked 5 or 10 hrs other weeks more, until I got back to where I could go back on the road helping the company. When the company changed hands I thought that things would change and they did. I kept quiet about the changes and did my best to keep going with a postive outlook. Numerous mandatory conference calls and reviews took away from what really mattered to my job; keeping the company profitable and reducing shrink. During this time I watched the most devoted employees at the corporate level be replaced by someone that did not know about retail at the store level. Until November 2007 the Kmart mafia micromanaged my life with such intensity that it led to increased mobility problems for me, and I resigned.
Losing a job sometimes leads to better things. A door closes and a window opens.

Jan 06, 2009
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Thankful for what I have
by: Kristi

I am a Goody's associate and I love my job. Yes it gets stressful but what job doesn't. I just want to remind everyone that we "the in store workers" are not the only ones that are losing our jobs. The corperate office workers are losing their jobs, the truck drivers, the wearhouse workers, the lp's, and the dm's, the list could go on. While we were wondering what to do and what the heck was going on,they were trying everything that they could to help all of us keep our jobs. They are in the same boat we are. Yes most of them may have a back up plan and resumes out but that is what you do in times like this. We all as a company and a family need to stick together through these last few moments that we have and stop pointing fingers, we need to be thankful for what we do have and remember that there are others that wished they had a job in the first place.

Jan 06, 2009
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thanks for the notice...
by: anonymous

I work for Goody's and found out through the internet that we were closing our doors. The store I work for is a "family" in every sense we cry together we laugh together we grow together and now we can stand at unemployment together! Corporate is corporate they all have other offers im sure meanwhile most Goodys are located in small towns like mine and for me that means there are no jobs available. Unemployment only lasts so long...and we are all hardworking and talented individuals. Our store was profittable. We have a community that loves us and hopefully will support us through the months that lie ahead of us. However this will not only hurt myself and my coworkers this will hurt my community as well. This was a big business in my town and I will be sad to see it go. As far as my "family" goes we are going to finish this together and continue to be there for each other and I hope that everybody else takes this perspective as well. Corporate is not looking out for us so we need to look out for each other more than ever. Good luck to us all! May we all find jobs with another family atmosphere!

Jan 06, 2009
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to braided emotions
by: Anonymous

Braided emotions....I personally have earned my "cushy desk job". I spent many years defending your right to be an idiot in the military. I earned my position by my dedication and hard work to the job. Maybe you too could have a desk job if you put forth the effort to obtain it. Don't vent out your frustration on the people who have tried to save you job for the past months. There were many mistakes made that I belief came before my time at Goody's and yes they could have been avioded but they were not. You can't change things now. Instead of laying blame and pissing and moaning, grow up, make a resume like the rest of us and find a new job. Here's a tissue.

Jan 06, 2009
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No benefits also
by: Christy

Just before the stuff hit the fan yesterday, management took us all in a group and said they could not say how long each employee would have remaining and also that under liquidation, none of us would have extended medical through Cobra and absolutely no severance package. We will be completely cut off.

Jan 05, 2009
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What to do?
by: Anonymous

this sucks what about recomendations? for all the employees ? How can we get them ?

Jan 05, 2009
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happy new year to goodys employees
by: Anonymous

I work for goodys and I wish upper management knew how to do there job because if they did thousands of us would still be doing the job we love. I think it is just terrible. Just remember you just lost your job also, so there. Goodys was doing so good before things changed hands. Im just so sad, the economy is bad enough and now this another store is closing. Way to go team job well done. Thanks

Jan 05, 2009
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Latest from WWD (Women's Wear Daily)
by: Randal

Goodys Liquidating
by Vicki M. Young
Posted Monday January 05, 2009
From WWD.COM

Goody’s, the moderately-priced family apparel retail chain operating primarily in the Southeastern U.S., has decided to liquidate, credit sources told WWD Monday.

The Knoxville, Tenn.-based chain emerged from bankruptcy on Oct. 20, but was said in early December to have exhausted its cash, credit and restructuring resources.

Sources said the company was expected to conduct an auction of its inventory as early as Monday afternoon with potential liquidators.

Calls to the company for comment were not returned.

For complete coverage, see Tuesday’s WWD.

Jan 05, 2009
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Sad day for hard workers.
by: Braided emotions

I speak for all employees when I say that WE have literally put our blood, sweat and tears into this job. For the past six years it provided income for my family. In return I am too tired to spend time with my children, too tired to keep my house in order, been depressed, have gained weight, had a shitty schedule that anyone with a life would not tolerate. Lets not forget local politics and how so many key carriers were always looked upon as better at their jobs then I was. I am MAD as hell! Now I will have to start over and rebuild another career. As a matter of fact this ordeal has put such a bad taste in my mouth Im going to change careers! I, like many others, agree that corporate should feel real good about themselves right now. Hope you enjoyed your huge paychecks and desk jobs while they lasted.

Jan 05, 2009
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This is a shame
by: Anonymous

This is terrible for the employees of Goody's and for Knoxville. I worked for Goody's through a lot of changes in the past (Goodfriend exile, Goodfriend return). I met my Wife at Goody's. There are a lot of very good people at Goody's that have weathered a lot of tough times. I hate this for them most of all. I hate this for my hometown as well. Goody's corp office is one of the first things you see when driving into Knoxville.

I am sure my current employer will be affected through delinquent payment as well.

Jan 05, 2009
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Today's Announcement
by: Randal

Jan 5, 2009

After the failed teleconference with merchandising suppliers (as seen this morning on local news outlets in the Knoxville area), we (Goody's) have initiated actions to obtain a liquidation company. Three liquidatiors have been approached for bid submittal.

Jan 05, 2009
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mad
by: Anonymous

I work for Goodys and I think that ever since Mr. Paul white became our CEO everything has gone down hill! It was the worst move to make him our CEO! I think that we diserve better than losing our jobs! I think he should see his fancy cars and home to pay his bills do the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer!

Jan 04, 2009
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Closing
by: Randal

WWD to announce this coming week:

Sale of "Duck Head" logo and property rights from Goody's to New York firm to assist in cash infusion.

Lack of payments with some vendors, some past due balances dating prior to Chap 11 emergence have created security concerns at corporate facility

Liquidation efforts may commence in January


Jan 02, 2009
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concerned employee
by: Anonymous

Goodys has been a big part of my life for so many years now, and like all of you i believe that we al deserve answers, how does our company want us to stand behind them if they wont throw us a bone.

Jan 01, 2009
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goody's employee #3
by: Anonymous

It's not fair to let us just sit back worrying. Get it over with already, tell us the truth. We even called the public relations person and they wouldn't even return our call. So Sad...

Jan 01, 2009
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worried
by: Anonymous

I work for Goody's and would like to know what is going on. It is very stressful not knowing. I feel the associates should know what it going on. I dont't think that it is right that they keep us in the dark about what is going on. For most of us our jobs is the biggest source of income.

Dec 31, 2008
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goodys employee
by: goodys employee also

Yeah it would be great if they let us know something. Today we found out we are not doing layawayas, tuxedeos or gift cards anyone....makes you wonder!!

Dec 31, 2008
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Goody's
by: Anonymous

I hate to say it but the bet on among retail experts is that Goody's will have to file bankruptcy again and fully liquidate. It's known that vendors are not shipping on terms and holiday sales were way below plan. My guess is that they will file sometime in the first couple weeks of January.

Dec 30, 2008
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closing or not
by: goodys employee

I wish that they would let the employees know something. The customers seem to know something is going on.

Thank you,

Goodys Employee

Jan 08, 2009
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I Knew it All Along
by: Anonymous

I worked for Goody's for nearly five years. When the company file Chapter 11 in April 2008, I knew that the troubles this company were about to face would linger on indefinitely. During the preparation of the Re-Grand Opening of our store (due to damages from Hurricane Rita), we were told that the company had changed hands in ownership. During orientation, the managers and prospective new associates were able to watch a video of the new owner and his plans of making the company not only a better place to shop, but also to work. We were misled in so many ways. The sales for regular and clearance merchandise were horrible, the ads were misleading, and there were so many limitations set in motion for associate purchases. The company also lost many of the name brands that customers loved. Upon learning about the company filing Chapter 11 in April 2008, we knew that it would only be a matter of time before the company as a whole would fold. I quit working for Goody's on August 1, 2008 to pursue a career away from the horrors of retail and I don't regret it. It's just ashame that a company that did so well before it changed hands in ownership would suffer this kind of lose and nearly 10,000 employees would be out of work.

Jan 06, 2009
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Prayers
by: MindBoggling

During this tough time and the times to come I will be saying a prayer for all the people that will be affected by the terrible news of Goodys going under. Once a force to be reckoned with in the retail industry, with poor management it has been diminished to mere ashes of it's former self. When Bob sold it the writing started going up on the walls. Through the demotions, dismissals, promotions, and appointees you could see the company changing for the worst. We all saw this coming 18 months ago. We closed our eyes and wished for the best, but we all knew the company had begun to spiral downward. PE,GMM,and their hired kmart mofia destroyed a once Strong and Proud company. They would not listen to reason. They were always right and everyone else was wrong. Great retail minds were released and replaced with the "Know It Alls" from Kmart. Well looks like they did not know a thing about apparel and how to manage a successful chain. Truth is We had Store Managers that would have managed the company better than the overpaid, arrogant, Kmartians.

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