Online retailer moving operations from Los Angeles to Fairfield

Fairfield will add as many as 75 new jobs to its labor market after Hollar, Inc. — which the Wall Street Journal listed as one of 25 tech companies to watch in 2017 — received a state tax credit and local abatements to relocate from Los Angeles.

Hollar, an online discount store for toys, beauty products, electronics, apparel and accessories, has leased about 129,000 square feet in the Union Centre Logistics Park, 8580 Seward Road, to establish a distribution fulfillment center. There’s also room to expand at the facility, said Fairfield Economic Development Manager Alex Kraemer.

“The company believes that by moving to Fairfield it will provide a great location for them to realize their projected future growth,” he said.

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Hollar CEO Steve Oliver said in a prepared statement that the Midwest location will provide Hollar “easy access to major highways and logistics hubs that are integral to our business operations.”

“It’s also ideally located near Cincinnati and its sizable skilled workforce,” he said.

Council approved a permit-fee waiver — which is approximately $2,000 — as city officials said it provides the company needed the cost savings to complete the move and begin operating in Fairfield. The company also received a 1.021 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. The tax credit is worth a total estimate of $135,000, according to the Ohio Development Services Agency.

Kraemer said this fulfillment center will enable the growing company to cover a broader market in the United States at a lower cost than on the West coast.

Hollar expects to hire a local general manager and 35 employees within its first year of operation, Kraemer said. The company plans to hire another 35 to 40 more people by the end of 2021 with a total payroll of $2.5 million.

“This is going to move quickly,” said Kraemer. “They do plan to start in November. They’re ready to go.”

Union Centre Logistics Park is a two-building development, said Tim McElroy, vice president of development of NorthPoint Development, the owner of the business park. McElroy said Hollar does anticipate growth as it’s already outgrown space three times while in Los Angeles. He said the company will have the right for first refusal for the open space.

Kimm Lauterbach, President & CEO of REDI Cincinnati, which was involved in bringing Hollar to the city, said the region “offers a competitive advantage to support business growth.”

“Our region’s globally competitive logistics industry enables businesses to move their products around the world,” she said.

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