Agri-plastics buys Hawthorne property

Hawthorne Direct and Agri-Industrial Plastics, long time neighbors with adjacent land and buildings on Grimes Avenue, are announcing a major business transaction benefiting both firms.

Agri-Industrial Plastics, a rapidly growing custom industrial blow molder, is expanding its warehousing capabilities in Fairfield and acquiring more land for future growth. With 62,000 square feet of excess warehouse space sitting mostly unused, Hawthorne Direct agreed to sell its six acres of land and 80,000 square-foot building to Agri-Industrial Plastics and lease back 18,000 square feet of office space currently occupied by the company?s Fairfield based staff.

The long-term lease arrangement will keep Hawthorne in its current offices. In addition, Hawthorne Direct will retain its TV studio space for filming commercials for national clients, which includes edit suites, a sound booth, duplication stations and make-up and wardrobe areas for projects done in Iowa. Hawthorne Direct?s Fairfield office continues to serve as the operational center for the company providing accounting, information services, account management, media support, marketing, administration and human resources while Hawthorne Direct?s growing Los Angeles office is headquarters for creative, production and media services.

Founder, CEO and Chairman Timothy R. Hawthorne said, ?This is a very positive move for both businesses and we are pleased to assist Agri-Industrial Plastics with their expansion while maintaining the office space that we built and have enjoyed for 23 years. We look forward to many more years in this wonderful building and calling Fairfield our home.?

The companies anticipate the property will change hands Sept. 4. In preparation for the change of ownership, Hawthorne Direct has been working with the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Way Off Broadway and other organizations to repurpose excess items that had been stored in the warehouse including furniture, props and office equipment.

?We are happy to provide local organizations with significant donations that will support their strong charitable work in our community,? said Hawthorne.

Lori Schaefer-Weaton, director of business development at Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, said, ?Agri-Industrial Plastics Company?s continued success with our targeted customer base has required that we expand our production capacity. With the recent investment in two additional fuel tank production machines and the expansion of our workforce comes the need for additional space. The purchase of the Hawthorne facility allows us to instantly gain needed warehouse space, and more importantly the additional property for future expansion. The location is ideal as it allows us to keep all of our operations, warehousing and offices on one campus. We agree that this transaction is indeed a benefit to both of our companies.?

Hawthorne Direct is a full-service direct response advertising agency, specializing in creative and production, long- and short-form media buying, teleservices and fulfillment management, integrated marketing and videoactive initiatives. Hawthorne is celebrating 26 years of excellence in direct response television. To learn more, call 472-3800 or visit www.HawthorneDirect.com.

Agri-Industrial Plastics Company is a custom industrial blow molder that has developed unparalleled expertise in large scale custom blow molding and manufacturing fuel tank systems for the recreational equipment, lawn and garden, agricultural and watercraft industries. The company has grown into a state-of-the-art company with 25 industrial blow molding machines, more than 130 full-time employees, 350 active molds, in two facilities that span 265,000 square feet on 20 acres. To learn more, visit www.agriindustrialplastics.com.