Haven’s Accent Marketing Laying Off 180 Workers
Accent spokeswoman Kelly Hilton said about 180 employees will be affected by the layoffs, which will conclude July 18. Hilton said the Winter Haven center was being used to handle customer service calls for a wireless communications firm that is discontinuing its contract with Accent.
“Unfortunately the nature of our work is driven by our clients, and based on their changing strategies, that impacts what we have to do,†said Hilton, who would not disclose the client. “This is very much an isolated situation. None of our other centers are affected.â€
Indiana-based Accent plans to retain its lease at 5300 Recker Hwy. and may use the facility as a satellite office, Hilton said. Accent operates two other Florida call centers in Eustis and Zephyrhills.
Accent, an outsource firm that handles direct marketing, customer service and database work for a variety of large businesses, expanded to Winter Haven in 1999 and leases about 26,000 square feet of space, Hilton said. In late 2006 the company increased its hiring at the Winter Haven center after it had been selected to “one of the nation’s fastest growing prepaid wireless providers,†according to a press release.
Local Accent employees will be able to continue working until July 18 and the company will provide outplacement assistance, Hilton said.
Tags: accent, call centers, communications firm, customer service, database work, direct marketing, haven center, hilton, layoffs, leases, Marketing, outplacement assistance, outsource firm, pany, prepaid wireless, press release, satellite office, spokeswoman, square feet, winter haven, wireless communications, wireless providers