Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation

Accretive Commerce, Inc. announces local expansion

Apr 5, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tim Hall Mick Koster
Deputy County Administrator Vice President, Marketing
Henry County Accretive Commerce, Inc.
276.634.4605 704.370.5006
thall@co.henry.va.us mick.koster@accretivecom.com

Crystal France
Director of Marketing/PR
Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation
276.226.6995 (mobile)
cfrance@yesmartinsville.com


Accretive Commerce, Inc. announces local expansion

Martinsville, VA (April 5, 2007) – The Henry County Board of Supervisors, in concert with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, announced today that Accretive Commerce will expand in Martinsville-Henry County, creating both new full time jobs and additional seasonal positions.

The expansion is a result of a contract extension Accretive Commerce has signed with Godiva Chocolatier that continues their relationship through 2012. Accretive Commerce has served Godiva since 1998 providing customer care, fulfillment, and professional services. These services include the distribution of Godiva’s products from a new world-class temperature controlled facility to be built in their North Bowles Industrial Park location.

“Henry County has been a great location for Accretive Commerce,” said Mike Bomba, SVP & GM, Fulfillment & Logistics. “With a ready, capable workforce and great government support it made our decision to expand our distribution center to meet Godiva’s growing needs an easy one to make.”

Accretive Commerce provides highly integrated e-commerce, customer care, and fulfillment services for some of the largest and best-known brands in the country, including American Eagle, Restoration Hardware, and Godiva. In additional to direct-to-customer fulfillment, Accretive Commerce’s Henry County associates handle phone calls, emails, Internet inquiries and other direct-to-customer lines of communication from a broad range of industries. Located in Martinsville-Henry County since 1999, they currently employ over 800.

The Company has been approved for Workforce Investment Board On-the-Job Training benefits and for Henry County Enterprise Zone Incentives, which provide tax grants based on the Company’s contribution to the area’s tax base.

"Henry County is thrilled that Accretive Commerce is expanding its operations," said Board of Supervisors chairman H.G. Vaughn. "Accretive Commerce has been an outstanding corporate citizen, and its decision to expand here reflects its confidence in Henry County, our business climate, and our citizens. This is a wonderful day for all of us."

“There is much growth potential within the industry already located in our community. Accretive Commerce’s expansion is just one example,” remarked EDC Board President Joe Roach. “The EDC is committed to continuing its work with existing industry, supporting the continued growth and expansion of business and industry in Martinsville-Henry County.”

Accretive Commerce expects to be fully operational by Q3 2007.

The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private-philanthropic partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.

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