Pine Cone Hill Outlet Relocating to Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pine Cone Hill is moving and expanding its popular outlet store.

The current outlet located in Lenox will reopen in Anne Selke Companies' 200,000 square-foot headquarters at 125 Peck's Road. Additionally, the company is launching Pineconehilloutlet.com with the intention of bringing its outlet merchandise to a national audience.

According to a statement released Wednesday, the move "will help to streamline the company's activities during a period of growth and expansion in other areas of the businesses."

The outlet will be a bit larger than the current Pine Cone Hill: The Home Store's 6,000 square feet. The store opened in the former Lenox Shops, now known as Aspinwall, in 2002. The company bought the old textile mill on Peck's Road, previously the home of Interprint, in 2005 for $2.7 million and refurbished it.

The Berkshires-grown Annie Selke Companies includes Dash & Albert Rug Co., Pine Cone Hill, Potluck Studios and licensed furniture and fabric lines under the name Annie Selke Home. Pineconehill.com launched its consumer site in July of this year, and Dashandalbert.com launched in March 2009. The launch of the Pinecone Hill site is the third direct-to-consumer website launch in less than 18 months.

The move from the highly visible location on the Lenox Road to Peck's Road may leave patrons stumped but the company plans to help its customers find their way to Pittsfield.

"We will be doing advertising and sending mailers to our return customers," said Jessica Fitzgerald, assistant to president and founder Anne Selke, on Wednesday. The new online outlet is also expected to bring the mainly wholesale company greater visibility. "Just being able to sell outlet merchandise nationally will be a huge step."

The Lenox outlet will remain open through December. The store and its employees will then move to the new location, slated to open Jan. 5. The company said the focus of the store will be outlet-oriented but that the entire line of Pine Cone Hill bedding and sleepwear, as well as Dash and Albert Rugs will be available for special order. The store's hours will be Wednesday through Saturday, 9 to 5. Anything purchased at the Home Store during the holiday season can be returned at the new factory outlet after it opens in January.

The outlet store isn't the company's only new appearance in Pittsfield. Annie Selke Home furniture collection from Vanguard Furniture will now be available at furniture store Paul Rich & Sons at 242 North St.

"I'm thrilled that my collection will now be available at Paul Rich. They are the best in the business. Their service is unparalleled and I know our furniture fans will be in excellent hands. Plus, they are right around the corner, so I can visit my pieces often," said Selke, in the press release.

A moving sale will kick off with the annual Columbus Day Tent Sale starting Thursday, Oct. 7, and extending through Sunday, Oct. 17. Tent sales will continue with future locations to be announced.

For more information about Annie Selke Companies, go to www.annieselke.com..

Cascade School Supplies Launches New Website

 NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Need a gross of Crayola crayons in violet? Now they're just a click away at Cascade School Supplies.

The 80-year-old provider of everything from glue to chalkboards to crayons of every color just launched a new and easier-to-navigate website.

The new site features improved item search options and a multi-level approval option that Cascade says is critical to school district business. The site also offers improved navigation, more specials and sale items, prioritized shipping of orders and delayed shipping options.

Cascade Paper Co. was established in 1931 in North Adams as a wholesale supplier of office and school materials, including furniture. It grew rapidly in the ensuing decades and moved to the Gale Shoe Co. mill on Brown and Grimes street in 1950, when Gale went under. It also operates out of the former Strong-Hewat Mill in Clarksburg.

Founder Robert O. Wells' children continue to own the operation which now offers more than 20,000 "consumable" items, such as those colorful crayons, pens, paper and glue, along with teaching aids and other materials. The company employs about 30 full time and more than 150 during the back-to-school season when it's filling orders from school districts and co-operatives around the Northeast. Cascade officials say it's the leading supplier in the Northeast for the K-12 school supply market.

"Cascade School Supplies is expanding on its already very successful Web business which has been working hand in hand with its catalog and bid business," said the release sent by Vice President Todd E. Shafer.

The new site allows for ordering small amounts as well as log-in area for school district and municipal purchasers to review bids and make bulk purchases.

Credit Cards are accepted for individual orders and purchase orders are accepted for school districts and businesses. The web address is cascadeschoolsupplies.com. To find out more call 1-800-628-5078 or e-mail sales@cascadeschoolsupplies.com.