Wellington Hall Discontinues Manufacturing Operations

Furniture World Magazine

North Carolina-based furniture maker, Wellington Hall Designs, LLC announced plans to discontinue production of its wood furniture products, effective October 30, 2004. The fifty-year-old manufacturing line, known for its high-end case goods, recently has focused its marketing and sales efforts behind the company's Wellington Walls custom wall systems. Its manufacturing operations are based near High Point in Davidson County. Wellington Hall Chairman Scott Tobin points to issues related to a precipitous decline in outlet sales, due to a deteriorating business environment surrounding the High Point showroom outlet location, as the key factors behind the decision to suspend its manufacturing operations. “Although Wellington Hall is an established brand, and well known for high-end quality, we could not sustain our commitment to US manufacturing operations without a strong retail base of operations.” According to recent reports, Ploi & Company, a case-goods manufacturer currently based in California, has plans to purchase Wellington Hall's Lexington manufacturing facility and produce its furniture there. Wellington Hall LLC retains the rights to the Wellington Hall brand name, as well as its case goods and Wellington Walls designs. According to Tobin, the company will focus on developing licensing arrangements or potential sale of the marketing rights to its case goods and wall systems.