ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 5, 1997 TAG: 9704070050
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JENNIFER HUANG THE ROANOKE TIMES
The textile company was based in Martinsville before it moved in 1987 to Eden, N.C. It will add 15 to 20 administrative jobs.
Pluma Inc., a textile company with corporate headquarters in Eden, N.C., said Friday that it will be moving some of its offices to an historic mansion in Henry County and adding administrative jobs.
The company plans to restore the 221-year-old Beaver Creek Plantation and by August move several of its executive, marketing and sales offices there.
Pluma employs 2,400 people and has six facilities in the Martinsville area in addition to manufacturing plants in Eden and Pittsylvania and Franklin counties in Virginia. It makes and distributes sweat suits and jersey activewear.
The move will bring the company closer to its manufacturing and distribution facilities in North Bowles Industrial Park.
The company was founded in 1986 by Henry County residents. Pluma was based in Martinsville before it moved in 1987 to Eden, citing labor, water and sewage reasons.
The 8,300-square-foot mansion, built over 11 acres on Kings Mountain Road in Collinsville, was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt in 1837. Pluma will renovate the house to resemble the original structure built by Col. George Hairston in 1776. The main building will house offices while surrounding structures on the plantation will serve as a customer guesthouse and a conference center.
"It's a very significant piece of property in our area," said Henry County spokesman Bill Farrar.
The company expects to add 15 to 20 administrative jobs when it moves. In addition, workers are needed to restore and maintain the plantation. The sales and marketing offices were previously located in Franklin County while the corporate office was in Eden.
Moving to Beaver Creek will give Pluma more office space, for current and potential growth.
Duke Ferrell, Pluma's president and chief executive, declined to give the cost of buying and renovating the property. But he said it will be comparable to the price of constructing a new office building to suit the company's needs.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines KEYWORDS: JOBCHEKby CNB