Williams Sonoma, Inc., Sutter Street Manufacturing holds job fair

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Christmas comes early for North Mississippi as a well known furniture maker announces plans to open a plant in the area and start the hiring process. 

Cheryl Brown and Shalania Isbell are hoping to be some of the first hires at the  Williams Sonoma Inc, – Sutter Street Manufacturing facility in Baldwyn. 

“Looking for a change, I’ve run furniture for Williams Sonoma before, they run real good quality, that’s what I’m looking for,” said Brown.  

The company will make upholstered furniture for Pottery Barn and West Elm at its location in the North Lee Industrial Park.  40 employees will need to be ready to go by mid-January.

However, workers will be added every few weeks through the spring. 

“We’re looking for a multitude of furniture workers, in other words, if you have upholstered, trimmed, staged, packed, received or shipped, we are looking for all of those positions,” said Cindy Jarvis, Sr. Human Resources Manager.

Itawamba Community College’s Manufacturing Solutions Center hosted the job fair. The college partners with area businesses and industries to help them make sure workers have the necessary skills. 

“We have Furniture Academy,  we have some other programs we offer and it is all because we are trying to help people get their skills up and get better jobs,” said Tatiana Sherman, ICC Workforce Project Manager.

Williams Sonoma Sutter Street Manufacturing is building a permanent facility in Lee County.  The company plans to hire 350 employees over the next five years.