Rowe to close N.C. Clayton Marcus plant
Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, March 24, 2008
Hickory, N.C. — Virginia-based manufacturer Rowe Furniture said it plans to close its Clayton Marcus factory here and move production to its modern facility in Elliston, Va., to maximize efficiencies.
The transition is expected to be done by the end of this year or early next year. The company said it was announcing the decision "sooner than later" out of respect for the Hickory plant's 232 employees.
Rowe bought Clayton Marcus from La-Z-Boy in October.
Stefanie Lucas, Rowe president and CEO, said the Ellison facility was built eight years ago and has open capacity. She said that despite the move, the distinctiveness and quality of the Clayton Marcus brand will be maintained.
"From a customer perspective, we believe this will allow us to service our dealers at higher levels and to maintain or even improve quality and delivery times," Lucas said. "When the transition occurs, we intend to make it seamless and easy for our customers, so as not to disrupt their business in any way."
The Hickory facility, Plant 1, and Elliston facilities are about the same size. Hickory has 475,000 square feet and opened in 1960; Elliston, opened in 2000, has 470,000 square feet.
