England closes California facility
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 13, 2007
Stockton, Calif. — Midpriced upholstery producer England, a division of La-Z-Boy, has closed a manufacturing facility here.
The 100,000-square-foot plant opened in 1999 and employed 54 people at the time of its closing, said President Rodney England.
He said the crux of the problem at the plant was high rent, three to four times the company's rates in Tennessee, along with generally higher business costs in California. England is based in New Tazewell, Tenn.
The company produced about 10% of its line at the facility and delivered the rest from Tennessee, he said. The company will fold its California production back into its five New Tazewell plants.
England said the facility was built during a period of strong sales in the industry when the company had trouble finding enough workers in its hometown.
