Ivar's Cabinet Shop Creates 27 Jobs in Cleveland County

Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) today announced the arrival of Ivar’s Cabinet Shop, Inc. to Cleveland County. The company designs and builds custom displays for retailers and other buyers around the country. It intends to create 27 jobs in Shelby over the coming three years, investing $2.8 million in a new facility.


“North Carolina welcomes Ivar’s Cabinet Shop as it makes Cleveland County its base of operations for the East Coast,” said Governor McCrory. “This family-owned, technology-driven manufacturer is a natural fit for our state and another example of companies understanding that our improving business climate and talented workforce make North Carolina the place for their business to succeed.”


Since Governor McCrory took office in January of 2013, North Carolina has witnessed the net creation of nearly 240,000 private sectors jobs.


Ivar’s Cabinet Shop, founded in 1966, makes display fixtures, showcases and shelving under the brand name Ivar’s Displays. The company utilizes the latest design and production technologies as it tailors products to fit the specific needs of retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Based in Ontario, California, the family-owned company will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary. Its new Cleveland County facility, the company’s first outside California, will serve its national and eastern U.S. customers in order to reduce freight costs and delivery time. “Our convenient location, unmatched transportation networks, and competitive cost structure all make North Carolina the ideal backdrop for a company like Ivar’s Cabinet Shop,” said Secretary Skvarla. “Nothing compares to North Carolina as a destination for growing manufacturers.”


Ivar’s Cabinet Shop intends to hire at least 27 workers at its Shelby operations. Positions will include machine operators, shipping/receiving specialists and assemblers. Salaries will vary by position, but will average $40,000 per year. Cleveland County’s overall annual wage is currently $34,899.


“Ivar’s Displays is pleased to launch this expansion in Shelby, North Carolina,” said Ivan Gundersen, chief executive officer for the company. “Collaboratively, the City of Shelby, Cleveland County and the State of North Carolina made our decision to bring this facility to North Carolina an easy one.” Gundersen credits county leaders’ foresight in investing in economic infrastructure, including a shell building at Foothills Commerce Center that will enable the company to begin ramping up production by February 2016. “Paired with a supportive business climate and incentives, the community and the state fit our needs perfectly.”


The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $50,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. One NC grants also require and are contingent on financial matches from local governments.


Numerous state and local allies worked with EDPNC and N.C. Commerce in supporting Ivar Cabinet Shop’s location plans. They include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Cleveland County, the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership and the City of Shelby.