Replacements, Ltd.
| Company type | Limited company |
|---|---|
| Founded | Greensboro, North Carolina, 1981 |
| Founder | Bob Page |
Key people | Scott Fleming |
| Revenue | $80 million |
| Owner | Bob Page |
Number of employees | 400 |
| Website | {{URL|example.com|optional display text}} |
Replacements, Ltd. is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina and stands as the largest global retailer specializing in Porcelain china, Lead crystal glassware, and silverware, offering both currently manufactured and discontinued patterns. Established in 1981, the company maintained an inventory of 14 million pieces spanning over 340,000 distinct patterns as of 2011, generating annual revenue of $80 million from a customer base of approximately 10 million individuals.
History
Bob Page founded the company in 1981 after resigning from his position as an auditor for North Carolina's state government to launch a mail-order business focused on antique china and glassware. Initially operating from his attic and later moving to a 400-square-foot space on North Elm Street in Greensboro, North Carolina, Page’s venture sourced products from flea markets and fulfilled customer requests recorded on index cards. Within four years, sales escalated from $159,000 to nearly $4 million annually. The business relocated multiple times to accommodate growth, moving sequentially to larger premises on Bessemer Avenue, Holbrook Street, and Gallimore Dairy Road.
By 1989, annual sales surpassed $9 million, prompting the addition of flatware to the product line and acquisition of the current facility on Knox Road in McLeansville, North Carolina. In October 1990, the company consolidated its inventory of one million items into this new headquarters and warehouse.
Among its offerings was a pattern identification service utilizing photographs and rubbings. Buyers actively sought rare pattern items through various channels including closing gift shops and jewelry stores. While flatware restoration was a standard service, china restoration was limited to pieces intended for resale. The inventory ranged widely from promotional glasses distributed at gas stations to high-end items like Flora Danica.
By 1993, Replacements had expanded its facility to 104,000 square feet with plans underway for an additional 120,000-square-foot extension.
In 1999, Replacements entered into an agreement with The Pfaltzgraff Co. to sell their discontinued patterns and access customer lists for replacement orders. A similar arrangement was made with J. C. Penney.
December 2005 saw the announcement of an $8 million expansion project aiming to increase the facility from 230,000 to 500,000 square feet across a 21-acre site, including rerouting Knox Road. This expansion would eliminate the need for leasing external warehouse space.
In January 2006, the city of Greensboro annexed the property housing the company; however, its mailing address remained McLeansville. At this point, approximately half of all orders were processed online. Total sales reached $75 million annually with china accounting for nearly two-thirds of revenue, flatware one-sixth, and crystal one-eighth.
On August 12, 2008, Replacements revealed plans for a further expansion of its headquarters by roughly 500,000 square feet at an estimated cost of $15 million. This consolidation would bring about 550 employees and an inventory of 12 million items under one roof instead of four separate locations.
National recognition
In 1986, Inc. magazine recognized Replacements as one of the 500 fastest-expanding companies in the United States.
By 1992, the company's clientele already included notable figures such as Barbra Streisand, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze, and even The Vatican.
In 1997, Victory! honored Page as Entrepreneur of the Year, acknowledging his dedication to supporting homosexual employees by offering partner benefits.
In August 2000, Oprah Winfrey gifted a guest a bowl in a pattern the guest believed was impossible to locate—a pattern found through collaboration with Replacements.
Later that year, in November, Animal Planet's Pet Story filmed an episode highlighting the company's dog-friendly workplace policy, which allowed between 30 and 50 employees to bring their pets. Around the same period, CNN's Business Unusual planned a feature on Replacements. Additionally, a Guiding Light Thanksgiving episode showcased china supplied by the company.
In November 2001, Replacements provided eight Pfaltzgraff plates for use on Everybody Loves Raymond. Initially, china patterns were chosen to furnish the fictional Barone family’s home; however, some plates were damaged during filming. Since Pfaltzgraff had discontinued production of these plates and a required pattern dating back to 1955 was unavailable even through Replacements, the company committed to continuing the search. Subsequently, Replacements sourced Little Red Riding Hood and Little Bo Peep figurines as birthday gifts for the character Marie Barone.
That same year, Replacements began advertising on U.S. Postal Service vehicles operating outside Greensboro.
For the August 24, 2002 launch of Carnival Cruise Lines' Legend ship, the company supplied 500 pieces of china for its main dining area.
In its 2003 edition, the Rand McNally road atlas listed Replacements among the top 25 free attractions. Since July 1992, the company has been offering tours of its warehouse facilities.
The 2005 film Junebug features a character employed at the factory and includes scenes depicting various stages of the assembly line process.