With the formal sale of etailz’s sibling company, For Your Entertainment, parent Trans World Entertainment Corp. can now dedicate more resources to the Spokane Valley-based online retailer.

That’s the assessment of etailz CEO Kunal Chopra.

“We are now their only focus,” Chopra says. “So, from our viewpoint, it is a signal that Trans World is more than ever committed to etailz.”

In the meantime, Chopra says etailz has entered into a loan and security agreement with Encina Business Credit LLC of up to $25 million.

Albany, New York-based Trans World says in a press release, “The financing will be primarily used to provide capital for etailz to achieve its growth goals, which includes further developing its software and services offerings, supporting inventory expansion, and expanding into new marketplaces and geographies.”

In an unrelated matter, however, Chopra says etailz laid off four employees after an internal reorganization showed there were positions that were largely replicating functions. Etailz employs about 155 people now.

“It was clear that there were some inefficiencies in the organization, so these were consolidations that were routine cleanup,” Chopra says.

Located in 40,000 square feet of space in the former Itron Inc. headquarters building at 2818 N. Sullivan Road, etailz’ current workforce is down 44% from 288 employees in September 2018.

Despite the reductions, Chopra says etailz is still poised to grow its ranks in 2020.

Trans World CEO Michael Feurer says in the press release, “With respect to etailz, we believe marketplace selling, technology, and advertising have never been more important to global retailing,”

Originally named Green Cupboards, etailz was cofounded as an online retailer of ecofriendly household products in 2008 by Josh Neblett, his wife, Sarah, and Spokane angel investor Tom Simpson. In October 2016, Trans World purchased etailz for $75 million.