Merchant House International Relocates Production Group From China To Jefferson City, Tennessee
09/17/2013
The manufacturer purchased a 40,000 square foot building in the Jefferson City Industrial Park where it plans to produce its line of men’s leather boots and shoes. The operation, to be known as Footwear Industries of Tennessee, Inc., will begin shipping footwear in March 2014.
"We are excited about expanding our international presence and thrilled that's happening in Tennessee," founder of The Merchant House International Group Loretta Lee said. “Jefferson City is an excellent location for our company because it is centrally positioned in the eastern United States, has excellent logistics infrastructure, and a workforce with skills and experience in the apparel industry."
“I want to welcome Merchant House International to Tennessee and thank them for their investment in Jefferson County,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “When a global company chooses to move operations to our state, it speaks volumes about the business environment and the workforce here, and it is another step toward our goal to become the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Merchant House International’s decision to move production to Tennessee underscores how more and more global companies are reevaluating the cost effectiveness of manufacturing overseas,” Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “With the best balance sheet in the country and an advantageous central location, our state is ideally positioned to continue winning international business. I want to thank Merchant House International for bringing high quality manufacturing jobs back to Tennessee.”
"Recruiting The Merchant House International Group to Jefferson County was a team effort," chair of the Jefferson County Economic Development Oversight Committee Max Fultz said. “I want to thank the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and Bob Thornton of Baker Realty, the listing agent on the building. We look forward to working with the company's leadership as they hire employees and begin operations."
The Footwear Division of The Merchant House International Group was established in 1980. Initially the company specialized in work boots, but in 2003 diversified into American-style western boots. The Division operates two shoe factories and in recent years has added production lines to increase capacity to over five million pairs of shoes annually. The Group manufactures footwear in the Tianjin, China area and has shipped its footwear to the United States for 30 years. It supplies major retail chains like Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Sears and has received "Supplier of the Year" awards on a number of occasions. In addition, it also makes safety and non-safety outdoor shoes for a variety of nationally recognized brands.
Project Announcements
PEAK Precision Manufacturing Plans Bowling Green, Kentucky, Operations
07/26/2024
Italy-Based Sipcam Agro USA Upgrades Wayne County, Mississippi, Operations
07/26/2024
Cleveland-Cliffs Plans Weirton, West Virginia, Operations
07/26/2024
IDEXX Laboratories Plans Wilson, North Carolina, Production Operations
07/26/2024
Germany-Based Ritz Instrument Transformers Plans Waynesboro, Georgia, Operations
07/26/2024
AirJoule Plans Newark-Wilmington, Delaware, Operations
07/26/2024
Most Read
-
19th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
Q2 2024
-
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
Q4 2023
-
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Q3 2023
-
The CHIPS and Science Act will bring jobs back to the United States
Q2 2024
-
The Bring Your Own Energy (BYOE) Party Is Starting
Q2 2024
-
2023 Top States Commentary: Top-Ranked States Have What It Takes to Win Mega Projects
Q3 2023
-
How to Overcome NIMBYism in Data Centers
Q2 2024