Blackwood Martin Lays Off Five Workers

In early February, Blackwood Martin/CJRW laid off five of the 40 employees in its Fayetteville office.

“There was no major cacophony, no major account that was lost,” said Mark Blackwood, vice president of the agency, which is owned by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods of Little Rock. “Just tough economic times, and everybody’s having to tighten their belts, and that’s what we had to do, unfortunately.”

Blackwood said the layoffs included an artist, a media person, a proofer, a traffic assistant and an account-services person. He said Sue Blake, the account-services employee, had been with the company for several years.

Blackwood said he may rehire some of the employees if the economy improves later in the year.

“We just don’t have as many projects for the clients we have [had],” he said.

Blackwood Martin’s clients include Tyson Foods Inc., Uncle Ben’s, Cooper Communities and the Springdale Advertising and Promotions Commission.