Horry County manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of tobacco pipes and artisanal tobacco blends to hire an additional 35 employees

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Laudisi Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of SmokingPipes.com, Laudisi Distribution, Cornell & Diehl, Inc, and Low Country Pipe and Cigar and located in Longs, South Carolina, announced plans to invest $250,000 and hire an additional 35 full time employees over the next five years.

Laudisi Enterprises, founded in 2000 by Sykes Wilford, has expanded and continued to grow its operations from online retailing to manufacturing and distribution over the past 17 years and currently employs approximately 80 full time employees at its Longs, SC facilities.  Every year since 2013, Laudisi has been included on the Inc’s 5000 fastest growing private companies in the US list, and www.SmokingPipes.com is now the largest retailer of premium pipes and pipe tobacco in the United States.

“When we were first talking about expanding again in 2014 we began looking elsewhere, but we knew we wanted to stay in the Carolinas, so we talked to an EDC in North Carolina about incentives,” says Ted Swearingen, COO. “But the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation showed us a lot of incentives we weren’t taking advantage of, like leveraging our community connection and the chambers of commerce … These were missed opportunities that we started making use of.”

To expand its operations in Horry County, Laudisi will lease an existing building near their existing facility in the Longs, South Carolina area.  Laudisi will hire a variety of production, distribution, support services, and customer support positions, and interested applicants can apply at the company’s site(s).

Quotes

“Laudisi is deeply committed to Horry County and we continue to see a bright future for the county. The company has been in Horry County for fifteen years as of this month. The changes we’ve seen here have been remarkable. We’re excited to continue to be a part of that story. Getting our latest expansion rolling has been quite the group effort, with support and guidance from the NMB and Little River Chambers of Commerce, SC Power Team, Horry Electric and, of course, MBREDC.” – Laudisi Enterprises, Inc. CEO, Sykes Wilford

“I am excited about the announced expansion of Laudisi and their commitment to hire 35 more Horry County residents.  Having our existing industries and businesses expand in Horry County is proof that we have a great environment for businesses to succeed and we have a great team of partners willing and able to support new and existing industries and businesses grow and thrive.  Congrats to Laudisi, the Laudisi team, and to Team Horry for this great announcement!” – Horry County Council Chairman, Mark Lazarus

“On behalf of the MBREDC Board, investors, and partners, we are excited about the announcement of Laudisi’s expansion and thank them for their continued commitment to Horry County.  It is always a great day when an existing industry expands in our community as it shows the strength of our support of local businesses and our dedication to assisting them in their long-term success.” – MBREDC Chairman, Neyle Wilson

“I am truly excited about Laudisi’s expansion in Horry County.  Sykes, Ted, Lisa, and the entire Laudisi team have been great to work with and I believe their business will continue to grow for years to come.  This announcement is another great example of our continued great partnerships and teamwork in Horry County, including the Horry County Council and staff, Keenan Walker with Circa Real Estate, Horry Electric Cooperative, the SC Power Team, and the entire Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation team.” – MBREDC President & CEO, Josh Kay

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Laudisi Enterprises, Inc is expanding operations in Horry County.
• Committed to investing $250,000 million and creating 35 new jobs over the next five years.
• Laudisi was founded in 2000 and is manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of tobacco pipes and artisanal tobacco blends.
• To expand its operations in Horry County, the company will lease existing space near its Longs, SC facility.
• Those looking to apply for positions should visit the visit the company’s websites.

About Laudisi Enterprises

In June 2000, Sykes Wilford founded Laudisi Enterprises with the plan to create Smokingpipes.com, and sometime down the road also open a retail tobacconist. Smokingpipes.com grew by leaps and bounds and is, today, the largest retailer of premium pipes and pipe tobacco in the United States. That planned brick & mortar tobacconist, Low Country Pipe and Cigar, was opened in Little River, SC in 2005 and has become something of a local institution for the area’s cigar and pipe smokers. In 2012, Savinelli, the largest premium pipe manufacturer in Italy, approached Laudisi Enterprises to become their exclusive distributor in the United States and Laudisi Distribution Group was created to serve as a platform for distribution to other retailers. In January 2014, Cornell & Diehl, a boutique North Carolina-based pipe tobacco manufacturer, previously owned by Sykes’ late friend Craig Tarler, merged into Laudisi Enterprises, Inc.  For more information, visit www.corporate.laudisi.com; www.smokingpipes.com; www.laudisi.com; www.cornellanddiehl.com; and www.lowcountrypipeandcigar.com.

About MBREDC

The MBREDC is a public‐private partnership that works closely with new and existing industry, site selectors, and economic development allies and partners to promote economic growth in Horry County. Since January of 2012, the EDC has announced over 1,600 new jobs including announcements in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, forest products, health-care, and technology-related businesses.  For more information, visit www.mbredc.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Josh Kay
President & CEO
Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation
(843) 347-4604
[email protected]

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