Palliser receives 2003 Canada Export Award
Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, February 15, 2004
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Palliser Furniture, which has just opened a third factory in Mexico, was one of 12 Canadian companies to receive a 2003 Canada Export Award.
The leased 78,000-square-foot plant is in Saltillo, Mexico, and will make leather motion upholstery, focusing on truckload business. Palliser already operates two leather upholstery plants in Saltillo, one for motion and one for stationary.
"The growth in motion, home theater and modular cinema seating is the driving force behind this expansion," said Roger Friesen, Palliser's senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Palliser's capacity in Mexico is now C$80 million annually, representing 30% of the company's total leather volume.
"Leather motion has been our most rapidly growing category in the past year," said President and CEO Art DeFehr. "This plant will allow us to aggressively expand our share of this dynamic market." Palliser opened its first plant in Mexico in 1998. That 200,000-square-foot facility was followed two years later by a 78,000-square-foot factory.
John Doerksen is general manager of Palliser de Mexico. James DeFehr, son of Palliser board member Dave DeFehr, manages the two motion facilities in Mexico.
Canada's export awards, sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, are presented annually to recognize success in the global marketplace. Palliser also received the award in 1991 for its exports to the United States.
One initiative Palliser is pursuing internationally is the expansion of its EQ3 program of dealer-owned dedicated stores. "We think EQ3 makes a strong statement about Canada as a fashion leader," Friesen said, "and we are working toward bringing the concept to the global marketplace."
Other key export initiatives include opening more international markets for Palliser's core upholstery and case goods products. "In the past three years, we have opened markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean," he said.
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