Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200047
SECTION: ECONOMY PAGE: 18 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LEIGH ANNE LARANCE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
In the King James Bible, Acts 1:8 refers to spreading God's word to the "uttermost ends of the earth."
That's where The Uttermost Co. Inc. - maker of mirrors, shelves, sconces and framed prints - gets its name.
"It's sort of our business philosophy, also - to see our products all over the earth," says President Mac Cooper.
Uttermost was founded in 1975. But only in the past few years, as political boundaries yield to global competition, has the company begun fulfilling that goal.
Today, exports account for 10 percent to 15 percent of the Uttermost's business, Cooper says. "Ten years ago, it was almost nonexistent."
The company exports to the Middle East, Australia and Canada and has a sales representative introducing its wares to the Orient.
"Japan has been real slow in developing," but Uttermost and other home-furnishings companies slowly are broaching Pacific Rim markets hungry for American goods, he says.
Uttermost also buys from abroad. While it got its start making items with colonial, early American and country styles, it since has expanded its line.
Cooper is traveling to Italy in February in search of moldings for mirror and picture frames. The company also shops for prints in England. Its products are 80 percent domestic and 20 percent from foreign markets, he says.
"We buy from there, but we can't sell to Europe," Cooper says. "Europeans like to buy European products."
The company was founded in 1975 with about 10 employees, but now there are 100 workers. Cooper says the company expects to hire another 20 people this year to accommodate growth.
In addition to exports, Uttermost is picking up new customers - and old customers are buying more.
J.C. Penney Co., The Bombay Co. and Pottery Barn are among the national retailers and catalog companies that stock Uttermost products.
"We started off selling J.C. Penney four or five items," Cooper said. "Now we're selling eight to 10."
Growth is what prompted the company's 52,000-square-foot expansion, which was completed this month.
When Cooper joined his parents in the business in 1987, sales had reached $2.5 million.
"In the year we just ended, it's $9.1 million," Cooper said. He estimates this year's sales will reach $14 million or $15 million.
THE UTTERMOST CO. INC.
THE COMPANY: The Uttermost Co. Inc., founded in 1975, had its beginnings in Cooper Wood Products. The company supplies home accessories such as mirrors, framed pictures, sconces, shelves and pedestals to retailers and catalog companies.
HEADQUARTERS: Rocky Mount.
OPERATIONS: The company this month expanded its office, manufacturing and warehouse space by 158 percent - from 33,000 square feet to 85,200 square feet - to accommodate growth.
ANNUAL SALES: $9.1 million.
EMPLOYEES: The company has 100 workers. The company expects to hire another 20 people this year to accommodate growth.
by CNB