Johnson Outdoors has decided to close down its sales offices for canoes and kayaks in the U.K. in France at the end of this month, and to transition to a lower-cost business model based on independent distribution in the region. The move will result in the elimination of 11 jobs. Another 17 positions will be eliminated in the U.S.: The R&D and marketing staff that is still working in its loss-making watercraft unit at Bellingham, Washington will move to Old Town, Maine, where the group will try to exploit more strategic synergies with its outdoor gear operations. These measures will cost between $2 million and $2.5 million, but they should generate annual savings of $2 million by the end of 2014. Johnson's watercraft unit stands for three brands: Old Town, Necky and Ocean Kayak. It made an operating loss of $1.35 million last year on lower sales of $57.7 million.

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