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Sutter Street Manufacturing Plant Expands in Hickory - 820 JobsWilliams-Sonoma Incorporated announcement comes as a positive boon for North Carolina's ailing furniture industry with the Henredon furniture plant closing in Morgantown last DecemberApril 16, 2008 CATAWBA COUNTY NC NEWS -- Sutter Street Manufacturing, a subsidiary of the national home furnishings retailer, Williams-Sonoma Incorporated, will expand its upholster manufacturing plant in Hickory. The plant, will include a product development and regional distribution center. Williams-Sonoma Incorporated secured a North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant to defer costs of the economic development by generating 820 jobs over the next five years and an invest of $2.7 million. Wages for the 820 new employees will vary with the average yearly salary equaling around $42,000 not including benefits. Catawba County's current average wage is $33,332. Governor Easley announcing the JIDG said, "There is a great tradition of furniture-making in our state and I am glad Williams-Sonoma is bringing it back. I hope this is the first in a long line of furniture-related industries we will be recruiting with better skill and higher pay." Furthermore, this investment by Williams-Sonoma Incorporated comes as a positive boon for North Carolina's ailing furniture industry, especially, with the Henredon furniture plant (H.D.M. Furniture Industries Incorporated) closing in Morgantown last December, a closing that cost North Carolina's labor force approximately 421 jobs in the furniture manufacturing sector. Morgantown is located 25 miles west of Hickory, and is a commutable drive for those displaced workers still living in the area. Moreover, the Henredon furniture plant closing seriously impacted North Carolina's furniture industry, interestingly, H.D.M. Furniture Industries Corporation is a consolidation of Henredon Furniture, Drexel Heritage Furniture, and Maitland-Smith. H.D.M. Furniture Industries Incorporated, is a subsidiary of Furniture Brands International, who solidified its position as the number one residential furniture U.S. maker when it added Henredon furniture. In December 2005, Furniture Brands International consolidated Drexel Heritage Furniture in Hildebran, North Carolina with H.D.M. Furniture Industries Incorporated, closing Drexel manufacturing plant. All employees in the Hildebran plant were offered transfers to the Morganton location. Therefore concluding, not only does Sutter Street Manufacturing benefit from a viable work pool to draw skilled labor, Burke County residents find badly needed employment for their displaced workers. The expansion also further increases friendly competition within the furniture industry, which is always good for the economy. Williams-Sonoma's chairman and CEO, Howard Lester, stated the company chose Hickory after conducting a comprehensive analysis of potential sites, "We selected the Catawba County area based on its highly skilled workforce and North Carolina's commitment to supporting the furniture industry and related jobs in the state. We are excited about the opportunity to make an investment in North Carolina and Catawba County in an effort to protect the high level of furniture-related skills that exist here." Sutter Street Manufacturing was formed in 2007 in California. Sutter Street Manufacturing currently employs 50 people in Hickory, and will supply Williams-Sonoma brands with upholstered furniture products. Meanwhile, the parent company, Williams-Sonoma Inc., employs approximately 39,000 workers, and is a nationwide specialty home products retailer. Products are sold as:
Williams-Sonoma Inc. products are marketed throughout 600 locations in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Canada as well as through seven mail order catalogues and six e-commerce web sites. Employment opportunities with Sutter Street Manufacturing expanding Catawba County in North Carolina and can be sent to: HRSutterStreet@wsgc.com. Published by: # # # |
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