Vanguard Furniture Company, Inc., a North Carolina furniture manufacturer, will add 100 new jobs in Burke County. The company will invest more than $5.9 million for an expansion of its upholstery manufacturing operations to Morganton.
“North Carolina continues to be the global leader for furniture manufacturing,” Governor Roy Cooper said. “Vanguard’s decision to expand in our state affirms that our quality of life and skilled workforce can provide a thriving business climate that brings success.”
Headquartered in Conover, Vanguard Furniture is a manufacturer and marketer of high-end case goods and upholstery. It is a family held company, employing 680 associates operating out of seven manufacturing facilities and flagship showrooms. The expansion into Morganton will be the company’s eighth manufacturing facility focused on case goods, finishing, and upholstery manufacturing with warehouse and distribution operations.
“This plant has a rich history and is an ideal footprint for making custom furniture,” Andy Bray, president of Vanguard Furniture, said. “The building is on one level, has high ceilings and will allow Vanguard to efficiently warehouse materials and ship finished furniture.”
“We selected Morganton because the local community has hundreds of generational craftsmen with sawdust in their blood,” Bray continued. “In fact, many of our best artisans and craftsmen currently make the 30-mile trip to our Conover headquarters every day and are thrilled at the prospect of not having to commute as far. This is a classic win-win. We create jobs and have expanded capacity and shortened lead-times for our dealers and their customers.”
“With the largest furniture manufacturing industry and workforce in the United States, North Carolina is a confident choice for Vanguard,” N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders said. “When we combine being first in furniture with being first in talent, North Carolina will continue to maintain its reputation as the furniture capital of the world.”
The salaries for the new jobs will vary by position, but altogether, the average annual salary is $42,536, exceeding Burke County’s overall average annual wage of $39,499. The new jobs have the potential to create an annual payroll impact of more than $4.2 million for the region.
