Hardware distributor Orgill sinks roots in Post Falls
<p>Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, left, shares a laugh with Ron Beal, chairman, president and CEO of Orgill, Inc. on Thursday morning at the distribution company’s new 500,000-square-foot facility in Post Falls. The company will initially bring about 140 jobs to the area.</p>
<p>Ron Beal, Chairman, President and CEO of Orgill, Inc. talks about the company's new distribution center in Post Falls on Thursday. The facility will replace the 500,000 square foot Kimball Furniture manufacturing center on Seltice Way.</p>
<p>Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson speaks to more than 80 community members, business owners, lawmakers and others at a ceremony unveiling Orgill Inc.’s plans to move into the former Kimball Office manufacturing facility in Post Falls and initially hire about 140 people this winter. Orgill, Inc. is the world’s largest independent hardware distributor.</p>
POST FALLS — The first catalogue of Lownes, Orgill and Co. in 1856 reveals intriguing products that haven't been sold for decades — a dog-powered churn, for example.
"Having been thoroughly and successfully tested, we do not hesitate in recommending them to the dairymen as being the most simple, durable and portable machine for the purpose," the catalogue states.
"It is equally adapted for sheep, and many prefer them to dogs."
While many of the products the 169-year-old, privately owned company that started in 1847 have long since been replaced by electric or digital gadgets, Orgill, Inc. continues to power on.
The world's largest independent distributor of hardware products officially became plugged in to Post Falls on Thursday as local, county and state officials were among about 80 people who welcomed the Memphis-based company to the 500,000-square-foot facility formerly occupied by Kimball Office.
"We're excited to be here," said Ron Beal, Orgill’s chairman, president and CEO, adding that Post Falls will be the company's seventh distribution center. "You have our commitment to be a good employer. We look forward to continuing our tradition in Post Falls."
Beal said the area's workforce; the cooperation of local, county and state officials; quality of life; accessibility to major highways; and the quality of the facility led to Orgill's decision to expand to Post Falls.
The company is renovating the building and searching for a human resources director. The bulk of the on-site interviews for about 140 jobs will be in November as the operations timeline progresses.
Those interested in applying should visit orgill.com under the Careers tab as openings get posted.
"Our first step is that we are actively recruiting senior management," said Mark Scanlon, vice president of distribution for the Western region. "We'll then install the racks and finally phase in other employees."
Racks and conveyers will be installed starting in October. Labeling of shelf locations is targeted for early November. Products are expected to be received starting in early December.
The company is expected to start servicing Canadian customers in mid-February and its U.S. dealers in early spring.
Floor jobs will pay around $16 an hour; drivers $57,000 a year; and managers $75,000 a year. Employees will receive benefits, including vision and dental, life insurance, retirement and education assistance.
"This is exactly the kind of company we hope to recruit at Jobs Plus," said Eve Knudtsen, chair of the Coeur d'Alene-area economic development agency’s board.
Rick Junkin, facilities manager for Orgill's Post Falls center, is the first person to be hired for the new facility. As the former facilities and maintenance manager for the office furniture manufacturer Kimball Office in Post Falls, Junkin's workplace remains the same but with a different employer. His last day at Kimball was Aug. 19 and his first day at Orgill Aug. 22.
"It was disappointing to watch Kimball go away, but every day with Orgill is more exciting," he said. "A lot of other people (from Kimball) could make the transition to Orgill."
Orgill is coming to Post Falls with the benefit of Idaho’s performance-based Tax Reimbursement Incentive.
The incentive features a tax credit of up to 30 percent for up to 15 years on new state tax revenues generated by companies seeking to expand in or relocate to the state of Idaho by adding new, qualifying jobs.
"To all those critical of the TRI, I say come to Post Falls and see the magic happen," Gov. Butch Otter said.
Otter planted another seed to Orgill officials during a tour of the facility.
"My guess is that this could be better than Memphis as the headquarters," he said.
Orgill will distribute about 90,000 products to independent retailers throughout the Northwest, western Canada and Alaska from the Post Falls facility. There will be 44 delivery routes from Post Falls, and the center will have an inventory of about $50 million.
Orgill has customers in every state, 10 Canadian provinces and more than 50 countries.
Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said Orgill will be a welcome addition to the community.
"For the past two years I wondered who would buy a building of this size," he said, referring to the time Kimball announced it would be leaving Post Falls. "To have it only be dark a few months is a godsend."