At the end of November, Last U.S. Bag Co. consolidated their existing three locations and moved into about 25,000 square feet of office and warehouse space on Columbia House Blvd., leased from Quad Investments 3000, LLC. Located conveniently near Highway 14 and I-5, the new digs are easy to access for customers, employees and suppliers. The Grand Central shopping center is right next door, as well.
“We looked at a lot of spaces,” said Will Macia, president of Vancouver-based Last U.S. Bag Co. “This was the best fit in terms of type of space, cost, location, and help with tenant improvements.”
The company, which has roots in Vancouver going back to the 1960s, has made significant advances in custom sewn textile products and textile design both domestically and internationally. Company brands include Blue Fig (bags associated with sewing and quilting), Gote (sports gear) and Galaxy (medical gear such as x-ray protection vests). The firm also offers vertically-oriented manufacturing services to other companies. Such services include R&D and design, prototyping and low-to-high volume production. Macia said past customers include Adidas and The Gap.
The expansion of these services is one thing that prompted Last U.S. Bag to search for a roomier location.
“Kitting and fulfillment will be a large part of our expansion efforts going forward,” said Macia.
He also mentioned that the firm is looking into new textile technologies and hopes to partner with several manufacturers this year to be the exclusive fabricator of those new products.
The new space is also flexible enough so that Last U.S. Bag can change the layout for different workflows at different times – important for a company that has such a diversified portfolio.
Macia said that his firm worked closely with the Columbia River Economic Development Council when they were looking for a new location.
“The CREDC has worked with Last U.S. Bag in the past,” said Max Ault, CREDC Director of Business Growth & Development. “In meeting with Will, we became aware of their growing space needs, especially as product and market lines for the company expanded.”
The long-term lease was signed in June, with the landlord committing to several tenant improvements. Despite assistance from the CREDC during construction, said Macia, permitting “was very slow” and “complications arose with respect to timing.”
Ault said that toward the end of 2015, a “significant number” of physical business expansions, similar to Last U.S. Bag’s, either launched or closed. Heading into 2016, Ault said the CREDC “will be working with 13 companies on physical expansion projects and anticipate a continued growth pipeline through the year.”
Ault added that physical expansion is indicative of positive underlying economic trends. But for it to be most successful, he said, it should be approached in the same manner as Last U.S. Bag: that is, it should accompany an organizational effort to expand product lines, in addition to expanding domestic and international markets, to diversify risk.
Last U.S. Bag
3000 Columbia House Blvd., No. 114 Vancouver www.lastusbag.com
