Henkel Harris open, completing back orders

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, January 21, 2013

WINCHESTER, Va. - Upper end case goods producer Henkel Harris plans to remain open through the end of this month in order to complete production on its last orders, according to a consultant assisting the company.
     As the manufacturer works through its backlog and finished goods inventory, it also continues to entertain offers from interested parties that may wish to acquire aspects of the business.
     While no firm deal has been reached, there has been some interest in the business, said Tim Stump, president of Charlotte, N.C. merger and acquisition specialist Stump & Co. Stump added that company officials continue to explore various options to keep the business open.
     Henkel Harris had announced in late October that it planned to close its doors around Dec. 31. At the time, the company attributed the closing to foreign competition and the weak economy.
     But the 67-year-old company had such a large backlog, that there was no way to complete or ship all the orders by that date, said Darrell Habron, of Habron Financial Consulting, a Winchester area firm working with the manufacturer during the transition.
     It was not immediately clear how many workers were left manning the production or administrative sides of the business.
     At the time of the closure announcement in late October, there were 109 employees in production and 13 in administration. According to its website, the company also had plans for a factory warehouse sale in mid-January.
     Parties interested in the business should contact Stump at Stump & Co. in Charlotte, N.C., at (704) 905-2058 or tim@stumpnet.com.