Paul Fredrick, a Pennsylvania-based men’s clothing company now run by two former Jos. A Bank executives, is planning to relocate its corporate headquarters to Baltimore County, bringing 70 white-collar positions to the area.
The company is seeking to lease a 10,000-square-foot office space, and could move to the county later this year. Relying mainly on its catalog and website to drive sales, the clothier is also exploring bringing brick-and-mortar retail to the area, Baltimore County officials said.
Both Gov. Larry Hogan and Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler praised the deal in statements.
“Our administration is excited that an innovative, growing company like Paul Fredrick has chosen to relocate their headquarters to Baltimore County, add 70 new jobs, and potentially develop retail locations,” said Hogan.
Said Mohler: “Paul Fredrick’s decision to move its headquarters from Pennsylvania to Baltimore County shows confidence in the quality of our business community and our workforce. These 70 high-level executive, merchandising and marketing positions are just the types of jobs that keep our vibrant economy moving forward.”
In his own statement, Paul Fredrick CEO R. Neal Black cited the area’s history in the clothing business and the many colleges in the region are draws to the company.
“We are pleased to be moving our office to Baltimore County,” he said. “Our team is looking forward to being in the greater Baltimore area, which has a long history in the apparel manufacturing business, and where we have the ability to hire from the area’s rich talent pool and terrific local colleges and universities.”
Officials with the Maryland Department of Commerce and the county said they are working on state and local incentives for the deal, but nothing is finalized.
Based currently in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, Paul Fredrick started in 1986 making men’s dress shirts, and has grown its line to include suits, pants, sports coats and accessories. Earlier this year, the Baltimore Business Journal reported Black and David E. Ullman, both former executives at the national men’s clothing chain Jos. A Bank, headquartered in Carroll County, had taken over at Paul Fredrick.
“They know how to grow a business,” Robert Wildrick, the former chairman and CEO of Jos. A. Bank, told the paper. “Whatever their plans are, they will certainly include growth of some kind. [Black and Ullman] are professionals.”
Widlrick likened Paul Frederick’s products to those offered by Jos A. Bank in the article. Black and Ullman’s ascent to the top came after a major investment from Paul Fredrick’s majority owner, ClearLight Partners, a private equity firm based in Newport Beach, California, the story noted.
Will Anderson, director of the Department of Economic and Workforce Development for Baltimore County, said his office will provide recruitment and interview space for the clothier as it makes the move.
