Ashley to invest $30M in e-commerce facility

The 500,000-square-foot center represents its largest Arcadia, Wis., expansion

ARCADIA, Wis. — Ashley Furniture has begun construction on what it says is the largest ever expansion at its operations here with the construction of a $30 million, 500,000-square-foot e-commerce fulfillment and distribution center. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday attended by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and other state and local government and community officials. The $30 million investment that the company is making in the facility includes building costs, computer and other electronics equipment and a racking system for the warehousing of product. The company said the facility is slated to open in February 2018 and will store additional furniture on site to more quickly fill e-commerce orders around the country. “Ashley’s commitment to meeting the needs of our customers comes in many forms,” said Todd Wanek, president and CEO of Ashley Furniture Inds. “Our latest investment involving this 500,000-square-foot expansion is a prime example of reinvesting in the future of our Wisconsin facilities. The expansion will allow processes to expand, improve capital asset utilization and allow for additional space to service our customer base in a timelier fashion.” “Wisconsin is working,” Governor Walker said. “Our unemployment rate has dropped to 3.1% – down again from last month and the lowest it’s been since 1999. And Ashley Furniture recognizes that this is a great time to invest in Wisconsin. “Its expansion project here in Arcadia is a win-win, allowing Ashley to better serve its customers throughout the state, the nation and the world, while also investing in and enhancing the local economy.” Source: Furniture Today