Reports: Hallmark to cut staff, eliminate party wares division

NEW YORK — Hallmark Cards will lay off up to 250 people and drop its party wares line as sales for the category decline, according to published reports.

The Kansas City Star reported that the layoffs equalled more than 7% of the company's 3,200 jobs in the Kansas City, Mo., area, out of about 12,000 employees worldwide.

The party ware business will close at the end of next year, and the company will cease making party plates, paper cups, napkins, table covers and party favors, the newspaper reported. Between 125 and 150 of the jobs being cut will come from that business, while another 100 will come from a streamlining of Hallmark's greeting card business, which will take effect immediately.