Editor

The sign on the front lawn of Clayson Knitting Company says it all.

The building on Industrial Drive is up for sale and the business is ceasing operations and leaving Red Springs altogether.

According to Bruce Hogan, Director of Manufacturing, the plant is for sale.

“We are moving more and more product out and also trying to sell off the equipment not being used,” said Mr. Hogan in an email to The Citizen. “As for the near future, we have orders to ship and product we are assembling at the plant.” He states that in the long term future, the plant will not exist as a Clayson Plant.

“The time frame is still undetermined at the this point and there is a lot of product still stored there,” stated Hogan.

The company also owns another plant in Star, North Carolina, where the company is headquartered.

At one time, the plant was a manufacturer of men’s, women’s and children’s socks.

Clayson Knitting, Inc., was founded over 75 years ago in Star, North Carolina. The company became part of the Red Springs landscape when construction on the plant began in January 1990 and opened its Red Springs plant in mid-1990. Owned and operated by the C.V. Richardson family, a huge warehouse edition was made to the plant in 2000.

Last year, the plant was operating with about 167 employees, but a decision was to cut 125 jobs down to about 50 and become a distribution facility for the company.

“We have some great employees at that facility and we hope, should the plant sell, that these folks would be considered for employment by a new company,” added Hogan.

The plant is one of many available buildings in Southeastern North Carolina and features can be found by logging onto the Robeson County official website at www.robesoncountyoed.org or by calling Greg Cummings, director of the Robeson County Industrial Economic Development Commission at 910-739-7584.

Sock sale

The Clayson Knitting Company will be holding a sock sale to the public this Friday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Cash will be accepted only. The plant is located on Industrial Drive, off N.C. Highway 211 in Red Springs. Telephone number is 910-843-5137.