From Canada to the US: discover Gracious Living’s expansion and commitment to eco-friendly manufacturing
Established in 1989, Gracious Living is a prominent Canadian manufacturer of resin furniture, outdoor accessories, storage solutions, housewares, resin recreational products, custom products, and more. Committed to excellence in quality manufacturing, the company’s team works cohesively to deliver the best outcomes. By prioritizing superior products and services to meet and exceed expectations, Gracious Living has built strong relationships with its customers which have significantly contributed to its success. Charles Kida, Vice President of Finance, shares a detailed overview of the business.
“Headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, Gracious Living is privately owned and employs over 500 talented people. From its three facilities amounting to one
million square feet, the company operates with two internal divisions: Gracious Living branded products, and GL Engineered Solutions,” he opens.
Starting with Gracious Living branded products, Charles tells us more about the range of products and services it provides. “This division specializes in manufacturing and distributing proprietary consumer products that are shipped to major retailers across North America, such as Canadian Tire, Menards, Home Depot, Rona, Walmart, and Ace Hardware. Our core categories include outdoor patio furniture, where we are the largest manufacturer in Canada, and we are one of the market leaders in resin shelving thanks to our expansive lineup. We also focus on housewares, with a particular emphasis on storage solutions and laundry. Additionally, we offer recreational products, including children’s sleds, toboggans, and kiddie pools, while our pet product line primarily encompasses dog houses.”
Expanded footprint
Joining the conversation is Carlo Nudi, Vice President of Business Development. He heads GL Engineered Solutions, which offers comprehensive manufacturing services from product development to production. “Our diverse fields of expertise drive innovation and world-class performance to a wide range of industries. In the automotive sector, we manufacture exterior trim and fascia components, interior trim, undercarriage, and under-hood components. Meanwhile, we serve the building materials segment with storm management, concrete application components, HVAC components, roofing seals, structural and decorative trim profiles, and deck and patio applications. Then, our plastic pallets, industrial storage, waste, and recycling containers, and retail merchandising display systems are essential to the material handling market. Lastly, the spa industry benefits from our hot tub and swim spa structural frame profiles and decorative cladding systems. Some of the services we offer within GL Engineered Solutions include design and engineering, prototyping, tooling, program management, material formulations and selection, and warehousing and distribution,” he elaborates.
To support the prompt delivery of this extensive product portfolio, Gracious Living has reinforced its manufacturing footprint with a location in the US. “In August 2023, we strategically acquired a facility in Morgantown, Kentucky, to foster our growth in the automotive sector and expand our proprietary product reach further into the southern US with injection molding activity. The factory spans 165,000 square feet, with room for expansion on the 12-acre parcel. By investing in our people, technology, and equipment, we continuously support growth within the new facility. With this acquisition, our goal is to offer our products from multiple ship points, thereby reducing landed cost to our customers. To that end, the location of Kentucky made for an ideal hub, as from there, we can ship to much of the US population within 24 hours,” Charles shares.
Gracious Living’s new Kentucky facility is complemented by its other two plants that are already well-established. “Gracious Living Corporation, our primary facility and headquarters in Vaughan, encompasses an impressive 700,000 square feet. Equipped with injection molding machines ranging from 100-to-3000 tons, this plant enables our decorating and assembly activities, thus providing a solid foundation for our manufacturing capabilities. Meanwhile, our 150,000 square feet Gracious Living Innovations facility in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, boasts plastic profile extrusion lines. There too, we undertake the decorating and assembly activities central to the fabrication of our offerings,” he states.
Sustainable practices
In addition to investments in manufacturing equipment and facilities, the company ensures its longevity by adhering to sustainable practices. “Over the past five years, we have placed a major focus on the introduction of recycled thermoplastic materials into as many applications as possible. Today, we are proud to report that over 60 percent of our applications are made with 100 percent recycled content, which has significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the products we manufacture. Our lab capabilities play a critical role in testing recycled materials to ensure that their properties fit the application of the product they are being used in. Since, contamination of recycled materials is quite a common issue, understanding and determining acceptable tolerances is crucial,” Carlo explains.
Looking to the future, Charles unveils his vision for the company. “For the remainder of 2024, we will be mainly focused on upgrading our Kentucky facility as well as launching new programs. Further afield, we are aiming to continue expanding our business in the US. As part of that, I would like to see Gracious Living operate three or four facilities in the country, either through acquisitions or organic growth. Furthermore, we anticipate that the industry will see some consolidation among smaller players in the coming years, and we are positioning ourselves to be a major player in the market,” he concludes.
By prioritizing its talented workforce and investing in sustainable processes, Gracious Living is certain to revolutionize a variety of industries for many generations. Its expansion into the US is poised to make waves, enabling the company to establish new benchmarks for innovation and responsibly manufactured solutions.