– Investing $70 Million and Creating 300 New Jobs –
Columbus, OH — Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world, has announced plans to build a new facility in Etna, Ohio, investing $70 million and creating 300 new jobs. Hiring will begin in late 2021, once the building is completed.
Ashley’s new facility, located at 70 Global Parkway in Etna, Ohio, will serve as a regional distribution hub, expanding the company’s already established national network of eight major distribution centers servicing the U.S. The new 1 million-square-foot warehouse will serve a variety of needs, including global e-commerce fulfillment and store shipments. Ashley’s $70 million investment will be put toward building the facility along with machinery and equipment costs.
“This is a major move to expand our warehouse capacity to support brick-and-mortar retail operations, as well as our e-commerce growth,” said Todd Wanek, president and CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries. “Providing access to nearly 50% of the U.S. population within a day’s drive, Etna’s location in Central Ohio is a strategic choice for Ashley. Our operations here will allow us to greatly expand our network and better serve customers across the country.”
Established in 1945, Ashley designs, manufactures and distributes home furnishings through retail, e-commerce and wholesale markets. The company is headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin, and sells furniture in more than 20,000 storefronts in 155 countries around the globe.
Recently, Ashley has invested heavily into the expansion of the company’s distribution and fulfillment centers in Spanaway, WA, Mesquite, TX and Advance, NC locations to increase warehouse capacity. With the distribution facility expansion in Etna, Ashley will be able to have the capacity to hold $56 million of inventory to service the local market. In addition, with close hubs for UPS and FedEx, this further expands Ashley’s capability for next day consumer deliveries. Across Ashley’s eight major distribution and fulfillment centers, the company will now be able to cover over 75% of the U.S. with next day delivery capability.
“This is an extremely impactful project for our community, and we are thrilled to welcome Ashley to Etna,” said John Carlisle, president of the Etna Township Board of Trustees. “Ashley’s confidence and long-term investment is a testament to the growing distribution and logistics cluster in the Columbus Region. Our robust workforce will also provide support as the company seeks to hire 300 new employees, becoming a significant new employer in the community.”
The Columbus Region is a global logistics hub that supports some of the world’s largest brands and top logistics service providers, making it a critical link in industrial and consumer supply chains. The Region’s location gives companies access to more of the U.S. population and employment base than any other major metro, providing unmatched accessibility. Within a day’s drive, you can reach 151 million people and 42,100 headquarters – that’s 46% of the country’s population base.
“Ashley Furniture’s first Ohio investment will serve as a regional distribution hub strategically placed in the Columbus Region, where it will create 300 new jobs and economic growth in Etna,” said J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio. “Along with the Ohio Development Services Agency, we look forward to working with Ashley on its long-term success here in Ohio.”
About Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
Ashley Furniture Industries feels that every person deserves more value for their money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world, and was named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes in 2017. From design through fulfillment, Ashley is committed to delivering the world’s best home furnishing values, selection and service, and earning the loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyfurnitureindustriesinc.com and “like” Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. on Facebook.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio through Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
About One Columbus
As the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, One Columbus’ mission is to lead a comprehensive regional growth strategy that develops and attracts the world’s most competitive companies, grows a highly adaptive workforce, prepares our communities for the future, and inspires corporate, academic and public innovation throughout the Columbus Region. One Columbus expertly guides companies through the location decision process. Through strategic business outreach and customized research, the One Columbus team leverages public, private and institutional partnerships to grow the Columbus Region’s economy and strengthen its national and international competitiveness. Funding is received from more than 300 private organizations, local governments, academic institutions and JobsOhio. Learn more at ColumbusRegion.com.
One Columbus Media Contact
Amy Harman
614-225-6070
ah@columbusregion.com
Ashley Furniture Media Contact
Cole Bawek
608-323-6110
cbawek@ashleyfurniture.com
