Smith & Wesson Distribution Center in Springfield Closes in lieu of New Missouri Facility
Adam Scepaniak 03.15.19
Smith & Wesson has a rich heritage in the Springfield, Massachusetts area with all of the time their company has spent there. That door on the company’s history will soon be coming to a close just like the doors of their distribution center. American Outdoor Brands Corporation (AOBC), which is the parent company to Smith & Wesson, has decided to shut down operations at the Springfield distribution center as they break ground for a new $75 Million warehouse in Columbia, Missouri.
With the opening of the new Columbia, Missouri distribution center Smith & Wesson will cease operations at other much smaller distribution centers around the country. AOBC has publicly stated that their reasoning for this move was to create more efficient pathways for distribution and that in the end there would be significant cost savings by housing everything in one location. The new facility will be approximately 600,000 square feet in size.
According to Elizabeth Sharp, Vice President of Investor Relations for AOBC, they do not expect any jobs to be lost in the transition from Springfield, Massachusetts to Columbia, Missouri. If this in fact holds true that is really impressive and Smith & Wesson should be applauded for doing so.
The new Missouri warehouse facility will not only house Smith & Wesson and Thompson Center firearms, but also their other lines of products like knives, tools, and outdoor equipment. The transition from the older distribution centers into the new one is expected to take the full calendar year of 2019. There already is one distribution center in Missouri and that older one will work in tandem with the newer facility they are opening up. The older Missouri facility employs 175 employees while the newer one is expected to hire 154 in 2019 with a total of 328 in the years to come. Smith & Wesson’s other prominent brand, Crimson Trace, will not join the new Missouri facility.
It should be noted, while Crimson Trace will send items to the new warehouse, the company will continue to be based out of Wilsonville, Oregon.
It will be interesting to see if in the coming years as AOBC becomes more streamlined and efficient if those savings trickle down hill to the consumer in the form of cheaper goods. Only time will tell, but for now one can hope. So what do you guys and gals think? Smart move by AOBC? Or do you think they are trying to do too many things under one roof? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
UPDATE: After receiving clarifying information from Crimson Trace, this article has been corrected to state CT will not be moving to Missouri and will remain based out of Wilsonville, Oregon.
