Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
Rierson, the owner of Custom Case Inc. in Thomasville, on Feb. 28 purchased former TFI Plant A, Plant B, Plant X and Plant V at the price tag of a whopping $1.6 million from Investor Jeff Schwartz. By the end of the year, he plans on adding about 100 jobs to his current workforce of 25.
“It will take a lot of money, but over a period of time I think we can get some people back to work,” said Rierson, whose company is now worth more than $3 million after buying the four plants. “I’m not looking to get rich. I just like to see people working.”
Custom Case Inc. currently builds cases for the military, as well as entertainment and airline industries. Aside from the cases, the company is just starting a utility building line, while also manufacturing bed frames and box springs.
Rierson, while wanting to keep the plants on the historical side, plans on creating his own furniture line.
“I think we can do that and still manufacture top quality furniture,” he said. “There is a lot of craftsman in Thomasville. There are a lot of people who have worked for TFI for most of their lives. I think there is a good pool of experienced people who can make the quality furniture that we are at looking at.”
Soon after buying the plants, Rierson received a phone call from Mayor Joe Bennett, who invited him out to lunch. Rierson said he was honored from the mayor’s interest.
“I am so excited that he has bought the plants,” Bennett said. “The vision he has for these buildings is going to put some jobs back into those buildings. We are very excited.”
Rierson said he “is just an old country boy,” and wants to bring furniture to back where it started – the municipality that takes pride in calling itself the “Chair City.” By the time the furniture market takes place in High Point this coming fall, he wants to introduce his furniture line.
“We need to get the American people back to work,” Rierson said. “I have been in furniture most of my life. It is disheartening to see everything being built overseas. The quality of furniture that was built in Thomasville and High Point, I don’t think you could get any better quality.”
Rierson said the new jobs will pay in the range of $8 to 10 an hour, and is working on adding benefits.
“As we grow, I hope we can increase pay,” he said.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.