HALEYVILLE, Ala. — Promotional bedroom manufacturer Harden Mfg. has laid off 300 workers, according to a report published today in the Northwest Alabamian newspaper.

This affects all of the company domestic production and distribution workers and some administrative staff at its operation in Haleyville.

The paper said the employees were laid off March 13, a day after FirstMerit Bank was scheduled to hold a foreclosure sale of the assets of Harden Mfg. parent company HM Holding Co and its sister companies HM Operating Inc, Harden Shipping and Harden Transport.

Scott N. Opincar, an attorney representing FirstMerit Bank, was not available for comment.

Harden officials also were not available for comment. However, an employee who answered the phones on Tuesday told Furniture/Today that Harden Mfg. President Sam Federico has left the company.

Federico came on board last summer, replacing former president and CEO Harley Ostlund to help guide Harden through a restructuring that has eliminated some unprofitable areas of the business.

Since last July, the company had exited its imported case goods program and has since exited its upholstery line as well. Company officials had said they were planning to focus entirely on Harden’s domestic bedroom line, which offers four-piece laminate bedrooms retailing from $399 to $599.

More developments are expected to occur later this week. However, it was unclear whether the company would be able to resume its manufacturing operations.

Randy Mundel, president of Uniontown, Pa.-based retailer Mundel’s Furniture, said he has bought the company’s line for about 15 years. Things had run smoothly until after Christmas, when he said deliveries had begun to slow down, a factor he attributed to the weather. A recent order that he had placed also was short about 10 items.

“The bill of lading had them, but the driver didn’t,” he said, adding that he did not have to pay for the items.

Up to this point, he said, his business with Harden has been strong. Last year, he did about $160,000 in sales with the line, the majority of which was in bedroom, and a small amount in curios. That compared to an average year of about $150,000 in sales.

“For the price they were good quality, and delivery was good,” Mundel said.

But hearing reports that the company has closed, he has begun seeking alternative sources in promotional bedroom.