Legends moves into high-tech plant
By Powell Slaughter -- Furniture Today, July 24, 2005
Las Vegas — Legends Furniture, a manufacturer and importer of home office, home entertainment and bedroom furniture, has completed its move to a new 150,000-square-foot, high-tech plant in the Phoenix area.
The 28-acre site also includes a distribution center that, through three-high pallet racking, has 150,000 square feet of effective warehouse space. The location also has room for expansion.
"This move allowed us to complete our move into lean manufacturing," said Tim Donk, marketing director. The facility has allowed Legends to consolidate three factory buildings and two distribution centers into one location.
"We can do more in less space," Donk said. "We have better consistency with our quality, shorter lead times, and the ability to keep our domestic price points as sharp as possible."
Legends is showing here this week in the World Market Center, space 606.
Most of the warehouse space in Phoenix is for home entertainment and home office furniture the company brings in from five factories in China. Legends also has a warehouse in China for direct container shipment of those goods.
Because of the plant's efficient product flow, Donk said there's no need to warehouse domestic products, which represent 70% of current sales. Legends makes home entertainment, home office, and some bedroom furniture in Phoenix, while importing home entertainment and a couple of home office groups.
"We're projecting our domestic-to-import ratio to balance out at 50-50 in two years," Donk said. "But we remain committed to our domestic manufacturing operation. We already have a phase two expansion plan in place here."
That expansion should be complete within two years.
The new plant also provides a better working environment for the 300 manufacturing employees. Along with a modern production area, it includes a full cafeteria and break area.
Legends was founded in 1990 in an 800-square-foot building. A strategy of controlled growth has left the company debt free, Donk said, and kept service levels high as production expanded.
While the company's sales force has grown to 32 sales representatives covering all 50 states, Donk noted that Legends still has its original five reps and original sales manager, Jim Cherry.
"That consistency has allowed us to grow in an efficient way, and made our dealers more partners than customers," Donk said.
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Legends moves into high-tech plant
Jul 25, 2005
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