Touchstone Cabinetry no longer closing; 67 employees keep their jobs
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RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. - Less than three days after Touchstone Fine Cabinetry told its staff the company was closing and they would lose their jobs, Touchstone was purchased, announcing it would retain all of its 67 employees.
 
Developer Mark Bellissimo, CEO of North Carolina-based modular manufacturing plant U.S. Precision Construction (USPC) and Tryon International Equestrian Center, was notified that Touchstone intended to close by an employee. After a series of meetings and a tour of the 220,000-square-foot, Bellissimo was impressed and decided to purchase the business from parent company United Cabinet Holdings.
 
"They were very good corporate citizens and allowed us to quickly structure a deal to that allowed us to collaboratively preserve the jobs versus just selling off assets,” said Bellissimo.
 
“It’s not what I thought was going to happen on Tuesday morning when I woke up, but I was inspired by the management team, the product, and the opportunity to both complement the USPC business and preserve the jobs.  The staff are proud of their company and with the right tools and investment, this is an opportunity for us to work together and turn it around.  The tremendous support this community has given us inspires us to invest more and we will continue to look for opportunities to strengthen our business and the local economy.” said Bellissimo.
 
"It was exciting knowing that I'd have income again. And hearing who bought the company, that was a great impact for the community," employee Christy Huckabee told local WLOS news.
 
Purchasing Touchstone allows Bellissimo to enhance his construction business, which is currently building hotels for the upcoming world equestrian (horse riding) games.
 
Bellissimo announced that he will restore everyone’s health benefits and vacation according to their tenure at the previous company to ensure that their transition is as smooth as possible. There will also not be any disruption or delays in their employment.
 
Touchstone Fine Cabinetry produces custom kitchen, bath, and general residential and commercial cabinetry and furniture.

 

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Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].