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.”