300 jobs lost in closing of WE Bassett

SHELTON, Conn. (WTNH) --The WE Bassett Company in Shelton which manufacturers beauty products like tweezers and nail clippers will shut its doors before the end of the year, eliminating hundreds of jobs.

When the company first opened in 1939, it was a family owned and operated business, now it has been bought by a bigger company in California.
    
Approximately 300 WE Bassett employees may lose their jobs when the business closes at the end of the year.
    
"They have had employees that have worked for this company for 20 and 30 years ya know, where do they go from here?" said Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti (R) Shelton.

WE Bassett is best known for it's Trim brand of personal grooming products and manicuring tools. Four months ago California based Pacific World bought the company.

News 8's calls to the company were not returned.

The United States Department of Labor ruled that production workers are eligible for special benefits for employees losing their jobs due to foreign competition.

Lauretti said the closing of the business has a major impact on the community, because lost jobs means lost tax revenue, and the loss of the WE Bassett support for local programs.

"The Bassett family is probably four generations long in this businesses, one has expanded one upon the other success and their success has filtered out into this Valley community and out," said Lauretti.

The State Department of Labor said when it gets official word that WE Bassett is closing, it will send a rapid response team.