Redman & Associates Closes Rogers Facility

Redman & Associates LLC, a leading manufacturer of Disney ride-on toys, has closed its $6.5 million Rogers facility, according to a report published Tuesday by Northwest Arkansas Newspapers.

The company laid off 14 of its 24 employees Friday, according to the report, and fell into financial trouble when Chinese importer Sales Chief Ent. (Hong Kong) Co. engaged in an “underhanded strategy” in an attempt to disrupt Walmart’s initiative to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States.

Sales Chief manufactured electric riding toys for Redman, which has filed a lawsuit against the Chinese company in U.S. District Court, citing a breach of agreement between the companies.

Redman, according to the report, also said Sales Chief interfered with Redman’s vendor relationship with Walmart, misused trade secrets, unilaterally changed the price and interfered with an existing business relationship.

Redman & Associates, formerly of Bentonville, announced the Rogers distribution and manufacturing facility last October.

Founder and CEO Mel Redman said the facility would initially take on about 20 employees whose average wage would be $18 per hour.

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