WITH AN EYE TOWARD GROWTH
HIGH POINT, N.C., March 25, 2026 – Today marks the grand opening of Universal Furniture’s newest upholstery plant in Burke County, located in the Hildebran community. The 200,000-square-foot facility replaces Universal’s former upholstery plant in Conover, providing a larger, more efficient and technologically advanced home for the continued growth of Universal’s successful upholstery business.
Known throughout the industry as a provider of whole-home furnishings, Universal has invested significantly in its North Carolina-based upholstery business over the last decade, positioning it as a core growth engine and point of differentiation for the company. By expanding its made-to-order capabilities and focusing on designer-centric customization and fabric and material innovation, Universal has worked to balance craft tradition with operational efficiency.
“The opening of our upholstery facility in Burke County represents a significant milestone for our company and a meaningful investment in the future of domestic manufacturing,” said Universal Furniture President Sean O’Connor. “Expansions like this have become increasingly rare in the furniture industry, which makes this moment exciting not just for our team, but for the North Carolina community that has long been the heart of our operations. We are proud to continue growing here, creating jobs and advancing our custom upholstery capabilities for years to come, including expanded customization options for both retailers and designers.”
Universal renovated the Burke County upholstery facility with expansion in mind; the company expects to hire 20–30 additional employees over the next two years.
“I’m proud to see Universal Furniture continue investing in North Carolina with the opening of its new upholstery facility in Connelly Springs,” said Senator Thom Tillis. “This expansion reflects our state’s strong business climate and skilled workforce, which continue to drive growth and innovation across our communities. North Carolina has long been a leader in furniture manufacturing, and projects like this reinforce our reputation for quality craftsmanship and industry excellence. I appreciate Universal Furniture’s commitment to our state and look forward to the positive impact this investment will have in Burke County and throughout the region.”
Historically known for its casegoods, Universal began adding upholstery to the manufacturing mix in 2016 with five imported sofas, under the direction of Sean O’Connor, who was senior vice president of sales at the time. Today, the company offers more than 250 frames in over 1,000 fabric and leather options, including COM (Customer’s Own Material) to support designer-driven customization. In addition to stationary living room frames, Universal will support domestically built reclining furniture, sleeper sofas, beds, dining, and outdoor from this new facility.
The company’s success lies in the balance between imported and domestic lines, offering retailers and designers a comprehensive solution that gives customers flexibility over timing, price point, and materials, as well as special-order and customization options.
“We have made some strategic investments over the years in our upholstery business that are yielding significant results for the company and helping us build our reputation as a singular upholstery resource for designers and retailers,” O’Connor said. “The Burke County facility is another example, this time in operational efficiencies and employee wellness, two areas that we know will drive our success even higher.”
The 200,000-square-foot upholstery operation has seen upgrades to its HVAC and electrical systems, as well as a refreshing of the employee workspaces, which include upgraded in-house dining options and break areas. Universal also added a dedicated on-site healthcare suite for its employees, including an on-site clinic and access to a registered nurse/PA twice a week. As part of this investment, Universal has also expanded its manufacturing technology, adding its second CNC router in the past two years for frame production, along with a third automated cutting machine in the last three years—further strengthening capacity, precision, and scalability for future growth.
A Learning Center, modeled after Universal’s High Point showroom, is part of the new space. This center allows retailers and designers to learn more about the company and the upholstery process. A unique viewing window provides insight into the product development area. To improve efficiency in marketing processes, the facility includes an in-house professional photography studio, which allows for immediate, on-site product assets for marketing and catalogs.
To keep its operations moving smoothly, the company has designed the space with a racetrack layout to improve flow and reduce production bottlenecks. The single-floor layout and segmented workflow ensure seamless transitions throughout manufacturing and easy access to needed supplies.
The Hildebran facility is part of a broader Samson Marketing campus that now exceeds 800,000 square feet under one roof, supported by more than 50 acres of additional land. This footprint provides significant opportunity for future expansion and reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to domestic manufacturing.
“The operating efficiency and ergonomic details, in particular, help us demonstrate how far manufacturing has come in the last few decades and what an advantage that is for our customers and us,” said O’Connor. “This is an exciting time for Universal Furniture, and I feel so fortunate to be able to bring this good news to the industry as we continue to invest in our future and in our community.”
Universal’s new facility is owned by parent company Samson Marketing. Manufacturing at the facility began in March 2026.
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About Universal
Retailers and interior designers around the world trust Universal Furniture’s award-winning, smart and stylish designs to create modern, well-appointed living spaces for the whole home. The company’s casegood, upholstery, accent and outdoor designs are developed under the brand names Universal Furniture, Miranda Kerr Home and Coastal Living.
Universal Furniture, founded in 1968 and based in High Point, N.C., is the recipient of 14 Pinnacle awards for design excellence from the International Society of Furniture Designers. It is a brand of Samson Holdings, one of the world’s largest vertically integrated furniture manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.universalfurniture.com, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @UniversalFurn.
