John-Richard, a leading supplier in luxury home furnishings and décor has announced a significant shift in its business landscape with the relocation of its corporate headquarters and centralized distribution facility to a spacious 236,000-square-foot facility in Whitsett, NC.
The company has operated in the Mississippi Delta since it was founded in 1980. “After a transition of ownership in 2020, a strategic decision was made to relocate key components of the growing operation to North Carolina. Scheduled for October 15, John-Richard will shift its corporate operations to the Piedmont Triad, an area that has long been acknowledged as the heart and soul of the furniture industry,” saidAndrea Kimbrell, COO.
The Triad not only provides access to a large pool of local talent that fosters strong partnerships but also serves as a phenomenal distribution hub, offering easy access to several east coast ports and an extensive network of major highways, factors that significantly enhance the company’s logistics agility.
Located in Greenwood, MS, John-Richard’s previous headquarters will continue to operate as a manufacturing hub for the company’s art and botanical lines. Currently operating out of an additional leased facility totaling 430,000 square feet, the company will now consolidate into its company-owned facility, made possible by the move of its distribution to North Carolina. The company will still have a significant footprint in Mississippi, occupying 250,000 square feet and well over 100 employees.
Plans are in place to rework the owned property with the aim of increasing capacity and expanding production capabilities.
Scheduled for October 15, this strategic move positions the company at the heart of the home furnishings industry, facilitating strong partnerships and enhancing access to key resources.
As John-Richard continues to evolve, its unwavering dedication to timeless design and superior quality remains stronger than ever. The company believes that the move to North Carolina will greatly improve its service to customers.
Manufacturing Move
In addition, John-Richard underwent a transition to a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Vietnam last month. Additionally, John-Richard will be renovating and expanding an existing facility in India starting in early 2024.
Located in the Binh Duong Industrial Park, the factory will more than double the size of its existing facility and introduce additional in-house capabilities, something the company considers a key competitive advantage over many of its competitors. The Vietnam facility manufactures and supplies virtually all the company’s furniture, case goods and upholstery, as well as several products in the company’s additional categories of lighting and accessories.
“This is a very exciting time for our company as we move into this brand-new facility, more than doubling our capacity and enhancing our skilled artisan’s ability to continue producing unique and saleable products,” states Scott Smith, CMO.
The Industrial Park is developed by Frasers Property Development; a large multinational property development company that has worked closely with John-Richard to construct the build-to-suit facility. Following LEED design principles the facility has LED lighting, green spaces, and a focus on health and well-being. In addition, the company is actively considering the integration of solar panels to embrace clean, renewable energy in future operations.
John-Richard has completed a rigorous environmental footprint assessment on the new factory, falling in line with the many green initiatives the company has planned, features include the installation of VOC capture systems, noise abatement measures, as well as strict control of any effluents or airborne pollutants.
A newly opened Vietnam facility marks a significant milestone for John-Richard, further upgrading their manufacturing capability. Investments in cutting-edge technology will ensure the highest standards of production and quality control. This expansion enables the company to meet the evolving demands of its customers with greater efficiency and expanded capacity.
In other strategic moves, John-Richard is enhancing its existing India factory with new equipment, internal building construction, and a realignment of processes to maximize efficiency. This modernization is phase 1 of a larger expansion project set to begin in early 2024; beginning with the addition of factory space, providing additional capacity and enhanced capabilities, planned for completion in 2024. The India facility supplies large quantities of accessories and lighting for the company.