CONNELLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Universal Furniture officially opened its newest upholstery facility in Burke County, North Carolina, in the Hildebran community. The 200,000-square-foot facility replaces the company’s former plant in Conover. The new location allows for a larger, more efficient and technologically advanced home for Universal’s upholstery operation.
“The opening of our upholstery facility in Burke County represents a significant milestone for our company and a meaningful investment in the future of domestic manufacturing,” said Universal Furniture President Sean O’Connor. “Expansions like this have become increasingly rare in the furniture industry, which makes this moment exciting not just for our team, but for the North Carolina community that has long been the heart of our operations. We are proud to continue growing here, creating jobs and advancing our custom upholstery capabilities for years to come, including expanded customization options for both retailers and designers.”
Universal renovated the Burke County facility to accommodate its growing upholstery operation, allowing for expansion of its made-to-order capabilities focusing on designer-centric customization and fabric material innovation. The company said it expects to hire an additional 20-30 employees over the next two years.
“I’m proud to see Universal Furniture continue investing in North Carolina with the opening of its new upholstery facility in Connelly Springs,” said Sen. Thom Tillis. “This expansion reflects our state’s strong business climate and skilled workforce, which continue to drive growth and innovation across our communities. North Carolina has long been a leader in furniture manufacturing, and projects like this reinforce our reputation for quality craftsmanship and industry excellence. I appreciate Universal Furniture’s commitment to our state and look forward to the positive impact this investment will have in Burke County and throughout the region.”
Universal has increased its focus on upholstery over the years, including in its outdoor furnishings collections, which include a range of upholstered pieces.
“We have made some strategic investments over the years in our upholstery business that are yielding significant results for the company and helping us build our reputation as a singular upholstery resource for designers and retailers,” O’Connor said. “The Burke County facility is another example, this time in operational efficiencies and employee wellness, two areas that we know will drive our success even higher.”
The 200,000-square-foot upholstery operation has seen upgrades to its HVAC and electrical systems, as well as a refreshing of the employee workspaces, which include upgraded in-house dining options and break areas. Universal also added a dedicated on-site health-care suite for its employees, including an on-site clinic and access to a registered nurse/PA twice a week. As part of this investment, Universal has also expanded its manufacturing technology, adding its second CNC router in the past two years for frame production, along with a third automated cutting machine in the past three years — further strengthening capacity, precision and scalability for future growth.
A Learning Center, modeled after Universal’s High Point showroom, is part of the new space. This center allows retailers and designers to learn more about the company and the upholstery process. A unique viewing window provides insight into the product development area. To improve efficiency in marketing processes, the facility includes an in-house professional photography studio, which allows for immediate, on-site product assets for marketing and catalogs.
To keep its operations moving smoothly, the company has designed the space with a racetrack layout to improve flow and reduce production bottlenecks. The single-floor layout and segmented workflow ensure seamless transitions throughout manufacturing and easy access to needed supplies.
The Hildebran facility is part of a broader Samson Marketing campus that now exceeds 800,000 square feet under one roof, supported by more than 50 acres of additional land. This footprint provides significant opportunity for future expansion and reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to domestic manufacturing.
“The operating efficiency and ergonomic details, in particular, help us demonstrate how far manufacturing has come in the last few decades and what an advantage that is for our customers and us,” said O’Connor. “This is an exciting time for Universal Furniture, and I feel so fortunate to be able to bring this good news to the industry as we continue to invest in our future and in our community.”
Universal’s new facility is owned by parent company Samson Marketing. Manufacturing at the facility began in March.
