American Signature Increases Capabilities With New $75 Million Indiana Facility To Serve Value City Stores

Furniture World Magazine

Ohio-American Signature Inc., the parent company of Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture, has invested $75 million in a new 498,000-square-foot distribution center in LaPorte, Ind. This center currently serves 31 Value City Furniture stores throughout Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri. "As we continue to grow our retail operations, this new facility gives us increased efficiencies and capabilities in meeting the needs of our customers," said David Thompson, president of American Signature, Inc., which operates 85 Value City Furniture Stores and 21 American Signature Furniture stores. "This is our fourth distribution facility, which allows us to maintain our promise of prompt, quality customer service as we expand the reach of our stores and increase the diversity of our inventory." Located 80 miles east of Chicago at Eastgate Industrial Park, the center currently employs 167 individuals and looks to expand its employment to a total of 195 positions by 2007. This project, two years in development, was spurred by $2.3 million in assistance from the Indiana Department of Commerce. According to Anthony Sindone, President of the LaPorte Redevelopment, this new center's presence will impact the community's economic situation by $38.5 million, including the creation of 253 jobs in the county. "The partnership between American Signature and the City of LaPorte is exciting news for our economy," said Mayor Leigh Morris of LaPorte. "Not only will this partnership create jobs it will help our city attract other strong investors and corporations like America Signature, making the future bright for everyone." American Signature invested $25 million in the building racking systems, and material handling equipment and another $50 million to stock the distribution facility. The company also maintains distribution centers in Columbus, Ohio, Ruther Glen, Va. and Thomasville, Ga. "As Value City Furniture continues to expand and grow, this new distribution center also supports our expanded product offerings from the American Signature Gallery line, which was added to Value City Furniture Stores in the fall of 2003," said Thompson. "The galleries offer a unique shopping experience for customers, enabling them to see professionally decorated room vignettes" About Value City Furniture Value City Furniture, a subsidiary of American Signature Inc., is one of the country's largest furniture retailers with 85 stores in operation. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Value City Furniture has been ranked repeatedly among the Top 10 of Furniture Today's list of top 100 Furniture Retailers. For more information about Value City Furniture visit www.vcf.com.