Location, Location, Location

July 1, 2008
Van Meter Opens Branch Outside Des Moines Van Meter Industrial (VMI) has opened an additional location in the Des Moines, Iowa, area. This new location

Van Meter Opens Branch Outside Des Moines

Van Meter Industrial (VMI) has opened an additional location in the Des Moines, Iowa, area. This new location expands VMI's service to customers on the west side of Des Moines. VMI's existing Des Moines location serves the east side of the city. The new Clive location is able to offer more product and services to the west Des Moines area. The 10,000-square-foot facility houses a full line of data, electrical and lighting products, including a counter sales area, warehouse, office area, an audio visual display room and a lighting showroom.

Omni Cable's Boston Branch Moves To Larger Facility

Omni Cable's Boston branch is relocating to a larger, more modern building in Holbrook, Mass. The new location, just south of Boston, will house over $3.5 million in inventory in a new 25,000-square-foot facility.

“The inventory mix will be a perfect complement to the commercial, industrial and residential markets in the area, all available with same-day shipments and next-day delivery to essentially the entire region,” says Jim Saffery, Omni Cable Boston general manager.

Synergy Cables Opens DC in Houston

Synergy Cables USA held their first open house event in June at their new 50,000 square-foot regional distribution center in Houston. The open house week included cook-outs, giveaways and a showcase of Synergy's inventory. Two lucky attendees won brand new 42-inch Samsung Plasma TVs and one winner received an 80GB iPod. “It was a pleasure meeting with our customers in an informal setting. Company presentations were kept to a minimum while we focused on relationship enhancement and listening to what our customers had to say,” says Eli Abravanel, president and CEO.

Graybar Opens Gulfport, Miss., Distribution Center

Graybar opened a 12,000-square-foot distribution center in Gulfport, Miss., that brings the company's locations throughout the Southeast to 64 branches, Graybar announced. The $1.5 million branch inventory is backed by a $19 million inventory in the company's Austell, Ga., regional distribution center. Branch Supervisor Chris Nichols will lead the Gulfport facility, which includes a staff of six. Nichols transferred from Graybar's Pensacola, Fla., branch.

Besa Lighting Opens Showroom in Vegas

Besa Lighting, a Blacklick, Ohio-based designer and manufacturer of decorative glass lighting, will open a new showroom in the World Market Center in Las Vegas.

“The new space will enable us to showcase a broad range of lighting products,” says Rick Cash, CEO. “The new venue will allow us to reach out to a broader audience. We welcome all current and new customers, and invite them to visit us.”

The firm will host a kick-off party and ribbon cutting ceremony during the early part of the Summer Market, which begins July 24.

Brook Electrical Opens New HQ and Adds Branch

Brook Electrical Distribution, a subsidiary of Sonepar USA, recently announced the grand opening of its new headquarters in Addison, Ill. The new location occupies more than 170,000 square feet and employs 100-plus people.

The new headquarters represents an upgrade in both space and capabilities for Brook, which increased its square footage by more than 100,000 square feet, and went from having a total of 4 shipping docks to 16 at the new location.

“The additional square footage will support the continued growth and expansion that Brook has experienced throughout the entire Chicago metro area,” says Mike Wall, president of Brook Electrical Distribution. “Additionally, our new headquarters is strategically located in a central location to our delivery territory, which provides more flexibility when serving customers in all locations around Chicago.”

The new headquarters is equipped with energy-efficient lighting throughout the entire facility, with occupancy sensor technology installed in each office for additional energy savings.

In addition to the new corporate headquarters, Brook announced the grand opening of a new branch in Libertyville, Ill. The new location employs six associates and occupies 4,900 square feet. Conveniently located in a high-traffic retail strip mall, the new facility officially opened in May.

Thomas Lighting to Move Headquarters

Thomas Lighting, a division of Philips, recently announced a strategic decision to relocate its residential headquarters to its existing distribution facility in Elgin, Ill. ?The move will allow Thomas to take advantage of organizational synergies and lower operating costs. The company expects the move to be completed by January 2009.

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