There’s been a great deal of economic development in High Point in recent years and, though the city has been known largely for furniture in the past, a lot of that new development is unrelated to furniture.
However, on Monday, July 17, the big announcement from the city was old school – that is, the city is seeing another big win in the furniture business,
For over a quarter of a century, Belgian brand Ethnicraft has focused on trying to make “warm and inviting spaces with solid wood, high-quality furniture,” and, this week, the company announced its new North American headquarters will be in High Point.
The new building will be an $18 million investment that will include “an office, full-scale showroom, and warehouse facility, providing Ethnicraft USA with the ability to better connect with its customers while also providing the Ethnicraft USA division more space to grow.”
The headquarters will be in the Gallimore Industrial Center.
Ethnicraft first entered the North American market in 2017 and has already gone from 2 employees to 50. This new expansion is expected to create 25 additional jobs in High Point.
High Point Mayor Jay Wagner was of course very pleased with the news.
“We welcome and celebrate the continued growth of Ethnicraft USA in High Point, the Home Furnishings Capital of the World,” he said after hearing the company’s plans.
According to a prepared statement from Stephane Huybrechts, the company’s chief operating officer, this is “a dream come true for Ethnicraft USA’s management team.”
Huybrechts added, “We are really excited to bring more of the Ethnicraft brand to the U.S., where we can provide even better service to our customers. With the new warehouse facility, we will continue to have a healthy level of stock and able to ship quickly.”
Huybrechts continued, “We appreciate our strong partnership with the City of High Point and Guilford County.”
Two friends from Antwerp – Benoit Loos, and Philippe Delaisse – formed the company which is building the new headquarters slated to open in 2024.
