COMMERCE FORT DEARBORN
F
irm puts its label on area
Expanding from a small press shop in 1925 in Chicago to a nationwide distributor of high-impact labels, Fort Dearborn Co. has made a name for itself in its industry. The company eventually made its way to the Golden Isles in 2002, upon acquiring Coastal Sleeve Inc. in Brunswick. The plant, which had begun operations in 1998, was an ideal location for Fort Dearborn to produce a wide range of label products, general manager Allen Rigdon said. “Fort Dearborn Co. is a leading provider of high-impact decorative labels – cut and stack, pressure sensitive, roll-fed, shrink sleeve — for consumer products companies in the beverage, food, household products, nutraceuticals, paint and coatings, personal care, private label/retail and spirits markets,” Rigdon said. “Specifically, our rotogravure-printed shrink sleeves are produced in our
Brunswick plant.” To remain competitive, Rigdon says Fort Dearborn Co. has turned to area residents and local sites with great success. “We have benefitted by the available work force in the area that has allowed us to be competitive in the marketplace,” he said. “The local area attractions are a plus for Fort Dearborn’s customers when they visit our plant.” In turn, the company dedicates resources and volunteer efforts to local charities and higher education facilities. It’s a continuous cycle that benefits both the company and the community. “We support the Altamaha Technical (College) and participate in local charity work — American Cancer Society, food drives, Chamber of Commerce — and we also support local hotels and restaurants through our customer and associate visits for training and business reviews,” Rigdon said. – Sarah Lundgren
COMMERCE SWEATS FURNITURE
Ward Sweat, seated, and Dwight Sweat
80 The Brunswick News / Saturday, March 23, 2013
T
hanks grows success
Even as large chain stores continue their march throughout the nation, one family-owned furniture store in Brunswick is holding its own. Sweat’s Furniture, 3630 Community Road, has been in operation for 52 years, but the owners don’t take that success lightly. Brothers Ward Sweat and Dwight Sweat are thankful to the community, which has supported the business, and want people to know it. Each customer who shops at the store receives a hand-written thank-you note. “We are local people. We are a local family-owned business,” Ward Sweat said. He notes that the business wouldn’t be successful without loyal customers. “We’re the oldest furniture store in the area, for sure,” Ward Sweat said. The brothers have built relationships with their customers
and are seeing generations of families returning to purchase home furnishings. “There’s nowhere anybody can go and find that kind of relationship with an entire staff,” Ward Sweat said, adding that most of the staff has been at the store for at least 10 years. The company is more than what is on display in its showroom. Community involvement is just as important as making a sale, Ward Sweat said. In addition to being at the forefront of a shop-local campaign, he has been involved with the former junior Chamber of Commerce group, St. Simons Island Kiwanis Club and the Georgia Home Furnishing Association. Involvement is a sentiment shared by Dwight Sweat, who is engaged in local youth athletics. “You just become known for who you are,” Dwight Sweat said. – Nikki Wiley