Canada's Distinctive plans N.C. plant
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 17, 2005
Granite Falls, N.C. — Canadian manufacturer Distinctive Designs Furniture said it is investing about $200,000 to open a plant here to produce fabric and leather upholstery for its growing U.S. business.
The plant, in a 60,000-square-foot former hosiery factory, is the company's first U.S. operation and will begin production in the current quarter. Harold Clark, vice president of sales, U.S., said it initially will have 50 to 75 employees and eventually could hire over 100.
Although the bulk of the company's business is with Canadian retailers, Clark said, "our business in the U.S. has continued to grow in recent years, so it only makes sense to expand our operations closer to our customers. Our core business is better-quality custom order, so the available labor pool is perfect for us."
Family-operated Distinctive Designs, founded in 1941, has three plants in Toronto and employs almost 400 people.
The company said it plans to purchase frames and supplies locally.
