LEEROWAN PRODUCTS CAN BE FOUND EVERYWHERE

JACKSON -- While Jackson, Mo., may not be a household name, products made at the LeeRowan plant there can be found in homes across the country.

The company makes a wide assortment of home storage items that can be used to organize the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, garage or office. The items range from a hanging holder for a shovel to multi-level, adjustable shelving systems, complete with pull-out shelves and rolling carts.

"It's great to walk into Lowe's and see 17 bays of the products we make right here," said Andrew Killebrew, vice president for human resources at the LeeRowan plant in Jackson.

The LeeRowan line is primarily coated wire shelving with rails and brackets that make them adjustable and wire shoe, garment and door/wall racks. There's also the Toughstuff line of wooden cabinets, shelving and organizing items such as mounts to hold bicycles or power tools; the Dorfile brand of wall mounted adjustable wooden shelving; and System Works, a line of laminated closet organization and general storage systems.

The plant manufacturers more than 2,000 different products, he said. That's a number that keeps growing as the Jackson plant adds more product lines and extends the product lines it has, Killebrew said.

In 1998, the company relocated the manufacturing of wood cabinetry and shelving lines from Memphis to Jackson. With that came a need to expand the plant by 80,000 square feet to its present size of 719,240 square feet. It was the 11th time the plant has expanded since it was built in Jackson in 1964.

Killebrew said product sales keep increasing with the growing interest in utilizing the space in homes more efficiently and more attractively.

"The growth makes sense when you think that there are 200 million homes in the United States of various ages. There are also more do-it-yourselfers going to Home Depot and Lowe's for items so they can do their own closet organizing," Killebrew said. He said LeeRowan products are also sold at mass retailers like Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target.

Killebrew said people find integrated organization systems like LeeRowan makes help them maximize their space.

Killebrew said another growing market for LeeRowan products is the construction industry.

"The new housing market is at record levels, and we've had great growth in the commercial housing market," Killebrew said. He said sales to builders make up about one-third of LeeRowan sales.

The growing number of products being manufactured at LeeRowan has meant growth in the work force there. In the last year, Killebrew said, the plant added 120 new jobs, raising the number of employees to just under 900 at the Jackson plant.

The Jackson plant is the largest of three LeeRowan plants. The company, a division of NewellRubbermaid, also operates manufacturing plants in Vista, Calif., and Watford, Ontario, Canada, each employing about 200 workers.

As Cape Girardeau County's second largest employer and as a growing company, LeeRowan has felt the labor crunch produced by low unemployment, Killebrew said. Finding and especially keeping good employees is a top priority at the company, he said.

To do both, LeeRowan tries to let its employees, or associates as they are called, know they are appreciated, said Dot Berkbigler, human resources coordinator.

At least once per month there are activities for associates ranging from a fishing tournament to a barbecue to a trip to a St. Louis Cardinals game to an awards banquet.

"Our associates are a diverse group, so we try to cover a variety of interests," she said.

Associates also can purchase products from NewellRubbermaid at significant discounts, Killebrew said. These include Anchor Hocking Glass, Calphalon cookware, Goody hair care and Rubbermaid container products.

LeeRowan also encourages its associates to give back to the community by sponsoring blood drives, food drives and a United Way campaign, Berkbigler said. For the American Diabetes Association Walk-a-thon last year, LeeRowan sponsored a company walking team, giving them T-shirts and other items.

"These days you have to do all you can do stand out a little," Killebrew said.

History of LeeRowan's Jackson plant.

1964: Original building constructed, 49,000 square feet.

1969: Expansion, 42,500 square feet.

1970: LeeRowan begins producing bath furniture. Expansion, 13,000 square feet.

1972: Expansion, 12,500 square feet.

1983: Expansion, 47,700 square feet.

1985: LeeRowan develops Storage Systems ventilated wire product line. Expansion, 52,500 square feet.

1987: Expansion, 60,600 square feet.

1988: Expansion, 86,440 square feet.

1990: LeeRowan purchases Space Solvers line. Expansion, 100,000 square feet.

1991: LeeRowan introduces under cabinet organizers line.

1992: LeeRowan introduces sports and lawn organizers, solid oak shelving and the Max-Track adjustable shelving system. Expansion, 93,000 square feet.

1993: St. Louis LeeRowan manufacturing operation moves to Jackson. Expansion, 80,000 square feet.

1994: LeeRowan purchased by Newell Corp.

1998: Memphis manufacturing operation moves to Jackson; leases a 104,000-square-foot building.

1999: Expansion, 80,000 square feet.

Help on the Web

LeeRowan's Web site at www.leerowan.com is a good site to visit for help with organizing your home with the organizing products the company makes.

In the virtual LeeRowan home section, you can take a virtual trip through a home filled with organizational products for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, home office, garage and storage areas. If you find an idea you like, put your cursor on the area and it will tell you which products were used.

The site also features ideas for storage products for closets, laundry room, workshop and pantry; a free custom design center; installation tips; and information on entering an ugly closet contest.