Lowe’s Layoffs Create Ripple Effect Across Community

MOORESVILLE, NC — Lowe’s layoffs are creating a ripple effect across the community.

More than 500 people lost their jobs Tuesday at the Fortune 500 company headquartered in Mooresville.

After nine years working for Lowe’s, Rob Leis made what will likely be his last drive off campus.

“The mood was, it was pretty low in terms of morale. People were crying, people were upset,” said Leis.

He was one of 430 employees Lowe’s laid off at corporate headquarters in Mooresville.

“All you can do is sit there and wait until they call you in,” said Leis.

Another 50 were let go in Wilkesboro and 25 at other facilities. That’s a total of 525 jobless.

“We’ve kind of known that something’s been in the works for a couple of months now,” said Leis.

Sources say the departments hit most were merchandising, marketing, pricing, brand and store planning.

“The shock factor is most definitely there,” said Apollo Suen.

Suen manages a restaurant across the street, one of many that opened up because of Lowe’s large campus.

“They do play a huge part in supporting us,” said Suen. “It is most definitely going to be felt throughout, I want to say the rest of this year.”

Lowe’s says, in part, the downsizing is an .”…effort to refocus and prioritize resources…” and “These difficult decisions are necessary to successfully transform Lowe’s as we adapt to the dramatic changes that are reshaping the retail landscape.”

Those left behind are still shocked.

“They’re kind of in this mentality of, why didn’t I get, you know, why didn’t I get axed,” said Leis.

Lowe’s did provide a severance package to those let go.