Kichler Relocates HQ, Switches to Remote Workforce, Moves Distribution Center to PA
October 27, 2021
There’s a lot going on at Kichler, and we’re not talking strictly about product development. The recent success of a remote workforce due to the pandemic has led one of the largest residential lighting companies in the country to reconfigure its workplace. While still staying within the greater Cleveland area, Kichler will be moving its long-standing Independence headquarters roughly 30 minutes away to Solon. The new headquarters will offer a mix of collaborative space and hoteling workspace for local or out-of-town employees who are on-site for the day, plus a new showroom and areas for product quality testing and certification.
“The events of the past year have provided a unique opportunity to test remote work — and we’ve seen that the company operates quite effectively,” says Irene Tasi, President of Kichler Lighting. “We firmly believe making a permanent change to a flexible workforce will help Kichler Lighting attract and retain top talent locally and beyond, as well as increase our company’s competitive edge.”
In addition, Kichler is closing its Ohio distribution center and will be opening a third-party managed distribution facility with 600,000-sq.-ft. of space in Eastern Pennsylvania by the second quarter of 2022. This Allentown, Pa. location is conveniently closer to East Coast shipping ports for faster inventory turnaround and improved delivery efficiencies. Kichler will continue to operate its Las Vegas and Braselton, Ga. distribution centers. To further distribution efficiency and align all facilities, Kichler is investing in a singular warehouse management system (WMS).
“These strategic shifts showcase our unfailing dedication to a culture of continuous improvement,” Tasi continues. “We’re committed to embracing change, adopting world-class processes and systems to advance our leadership role in the lighting industry. Our business is strong, and we’re focused on making it stronger.”
