Tech Company Sees Room to Grow in Evansville
In late 2014
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe founder of an e-commerce company that is bringing more than 100 new jobs to Evansville believes there is "plenty of runway" left in the city to keep growing. eLuxurySupply.com’s Paul Saunders says city and state leaders are investing money, time and resources into making Evansville an innovation-friendly community. The company announced plans Thursday to move its manufacturing operations from Tennessee to Vanderburgh County. Saunders, a Marine Corps veteran and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, says Evansville has an “excellent talent pool” to fill manufacturing, supply chain and logistics openings.
The company is investing over $5 million to renovate its 60,000 square-foot headquarters to accommodate the move, which is expected to be completed in the spring. The new operations will include manufacturing of bedding products, in addition to the e-commerce, wholesale customer service and distribution operations that are already being done at the Evansville headquarters.
The company is now hiring for manufacturing positions and plans to add 24 new positions immediately.
"When people ask about our secret to success, we say that we work to a higher purpose than just prosperity; kindness and generosity are equally as important," said Paul Saunders, president of eLuxurySupply.com. "Our goal is to make a better life for our families, our communities and our country by making a positive impact on the people who surround us, including customers, teammates and partners. This move of our manufacturing facility to Evansville is an example of that strategy. Evansville is our home and this is where we want to grow."
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered the company up to $725,000 in conditional tax credits. The credits are performance-based, which means the company will not receive them until Indiana residents are hired. The city of Evansville is also considering additional incentives.
"The tremendous e-commerce growth and success of eLuxurySupply.com is without a doubt credited to the company’s insightful leadership and world-class team members," said Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. "I’m proud of the company’s growth and even more pleased the company has chosen to expand and continue to thrive in Evansville."
eLuxurySupply.com was founded by Saunders in 2009 and was recently named the fastest growing company in Indiana, and the 15th fastest growing company in the nation, by Inc. magazine. Saunders is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
"The spirit of Hoosier innovation is alive and well with eLuxurySupply.com’s news that it is bringing manufacturing operations home to Indiana," said Governor Mike Pence. "After manufacturing its bed, bath, home and garden products elsewhere, eLuxurySupply.com discovered that if they did their manufacturing here, Indiana’s affordable cost of doing business and highly-skilled workforce would give them the best competitive advantage. With all that Indiana has to offer, homegrown companies like eLuxurySupply.com continue to grow and create new jobs for Hoosiers."
Saunders says the company will be able to manufacture more than half of its portfolio in Evansville.