OKOLONA, Miss. — Paxton Furniture Industries moved its operations from China and last June began manufacturing operations in Okolona, Mississippi. The company now operates two production lines, is installing a third line and plans are in the works for a fourth and fifth production line to meet demand.

The company, according to the Digital Journal, now employs 80, and the company needs another 40 as demand increases and orders need to be filled.

Tim Watts, plant manager, told the Journal that when he started with the company in 2021 there were only three employees at the 200,000-square-foot warehouse. The company is owned by Adam Paxton and his uncle, and partner, Jim.

Four motion sofa lines that were previously made overseas are now being built at the Okolona facility where employees essentially reengineered them for PFI to produce. PFI ships in cut-and-sew fabrics kits and uses frames, foam, mechanisms, most of the hardware, cardboard, and other supplies produced locally.

"It's kind of a unique story here," Watts told the Journal. "This stuff was being produced in China, and what we've done is take what Adam was already selling and reengineering them. Of course, we build a frame differently. We don't use any OSB; it's all plywood and hardwood. It's solid."