BREAKING NEWS: Lionel to move customer service center to NC

More folks have posted on this thread then work there. 

Pete

Gentlemen,

   If this is true, Lionel is doing way to much business over seas, a real shame.

PCRR/Dave

>>>It definitely will be a big business loss for both Ohio & MI, this is what happens with the proper business climate, old businesses like Lionel move to that location, when they are properly managed.<<

One would hardly consider what remains of Lionels presence in Michigan, a small obscure outpost with one maybe two employees a big business loss for the state.

In hindsight, now that Michigan is a right to work state. Lionel would probably be financially better off today had they stuck around and used MTH as their business model rather then nearly going bust by reaching for the impossible stars.

Joe

Hmmm.  This puts them right at 4 hours away from me.  

This is another example of corporate migration to southern states to escape draconian taxes.  

I do some work in the hobby field. Most of the manufacturing is in Asia/China. I do all my communication via files sent by e-mail. We get the work done and it comes out well. BUT.....a few folks I work with are within 2 hours...and getting to meet when we need to face to face is still the best way to do it.  Lionel for the most part in one building can make things better.

Maybe Lionel should spomser a NASCAR team.  And orange, blue and cream car would look great!

Actally, where does Lionel containers enter the US?  Part of this move could be a result of the newer and larger locks on the Panama Canal which will be going into service soon!

 Yeah well, company's that receive 10 year tax abatement are not free.  Especially if you are a surrounding property/homeowner.  Cause your property tax's are going up to pay for it.

And even if you don't own property but rent, the landlord is raising your rent to off-set his increase.

It works OK for company's that employ large numbers in those cities and towns but Lionel isn't one of them. 

The only ones making a living there are the suits.

I'm not saying they got the tax breaks where they are moving to , but it's highly doubtful they we're driven out because of high tax's.

Merely consolidation of resources.

Don't worry, you ain't seeing no benefit from it except your commute time possibly.

Think I just found my perfect part time job!!

6301 Performance Drive,

Concord, NC.

The facility is near Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Just don't try visiting when there's a race in town, you'll never find a hotel/motel room.

Savannah is the country's fifth busiest port, how far is that from Concord?

275 miles give-or-take...

I'll be sure to keep that in mind the next time we're over your way in Asheville

can't find the video but when Howard Hitchcock took over and he was interviewed he said that the containers are offloaded in Wilmington NC .

I wonder how long it will be before they pressure Jon into closing the Santa Clara, CA engineering office?

Sad news for all the workers who have to either get a new job or consider moving.

I worked for a company that said the same thing when they moved to a southern state This was a couple of years before they moved farther south to Nuevo Loredo.

Not sure how many employees are involved, but I doubt it's that many.

Probably the local McDonalds has more employees.

I was in a rather junior executive position with a Fortune 50 company that moved its HQ from PA to NC in 1990.  I thought the move, and the centralization they did  (much like Lionel is now) was a good move then.  And now: the company is still here and thriving.  NC is a very "business friendly" state that understands it's more than just low labor cost that make for a good corporate environment.  

As for me and my family, I said then and still think that for us moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina was like being kids getting out of a Dicken's novel ("Please sir, can I have some more?") so we can go go live in Disneyland.   We left a lousy climate, an over-taxing government that could not deliver anything but a worn-out infrastructure in spite of all the money it took, grumpy public employees in  inefficient, uncaring bureaucracies, and newspapers that can't even publish on holidays because their employee base wasn't even committed enough to find some way for a few to work on those days.  We learned why the Carolinas are famous for the weather, that state, county, and local governments can work well and public employees actually act as if they work for the public, not the other way around, and that a regional culture built around a personal work ethic and taking responsibility for yourself can make for a pretty good world.  We're never leaving here - certainly not for Meh-E-Co.

Lionel is making a very good move, both in its centralization and its selection of a new state.

Well said Lee.

I do think though that Jon's techie folk need to stay where they are in the heart of Silicon Valley.  It only makes sense to be where the techno toys are to make cool techno toys.

It's easy driving for you too Dennis. Go up 287 a bit, turn left onto 80 and then turn left again when you reach Ohio.  

Absolutely correct, and I'm confident that Jon will remain just where he is and where his and his colleagues can produce the best results in the most economical and efficient manner.

North Carolina's primary seaport is Morehead City near Wilmington. They are a deepwater port and well equipped for handling containers. They do bulk and breakdown.

Yep, you are correct, made the trip last August and that is a much easier trip! :-(

Centralization can - at least should - go only so far, yes.  But if I were Lionel, or just Jon, I would move Jon to NC but not right next door to the other center.  Silicon Valley is not the dominant place it once was for hardware technology - today it's main forte seems to be that it is home to so much of the venture capital that goes into some start ups there, but mostly off to new "valleys" in places like Boston, Tuscon, Austin, Boulder, Corvallis, and very notably, Research Triangle Park area (where my start-up was born) here in NC - arguably the place for power electronics now that the federal government is building the national lab for it here.  One could argue that given all that, the fact that Racific Rim suppliers (CA is a pacific rim country if you look at it from a certain perspective - like any map) are becoming less important, and the fact that Jon might be near the historical epi-center of micro-electronics in CA but is isolated from the center of its company's market (look at a forum member map - I think it's a fairly good indicator of where the market in general is) and from his company's HQ.  Given that he and Lionel want him to be exposed to and mixed into both his company and the market (I would, but I'm not running Lionel) the move makes sense.  The IP protection here and employee confidentiality/non-compete laws are also just a whole lot better in NC  than in CA: that is something Lionel has bitter experience with and that ought to be on its mind alot, still, I would think. 

North Carolina  Quick facts.  Growing state approaching 10 million.  Western part of the state is very rural, IMO.  The boarder between Tennessee shares the Appalachian Trail, ridge running, through Great Smoky Mountain National Park. IMO, a lot to do and see in North Carolina. Mountains in this area are over 6,000 ft similar to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.   Our visit there was very friendly.   I wish them (Lionel) well.
Picture from Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Appalachian Trail  on the Tennessee/North Carolina boarder.

The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is one of the most visited parks, noted for it's hiking trails and scenery. The remote community of Cade's Cove, is a step back in time. Popularity is most likely do to it's location near major metropolitan areas, east of the Mississippi.  IMO. There is a Train Museum and Tourist RR, Bryson City, NC.  North Carolina may be a great place to work and play.

 Mike CT

Well, I'm happy. Now the entire Lionel setup will be within range of a good road trip! hehe.

-Eric

I considered relocating to NC, but feel that at this point in my life it is best to stay right here.  While one can consider the merits of various states and what works best for them, I have lived in CA for my entire working career and and have had no issues with living or working in CA.

Some people really need to keep their noses out of Lionel's (among others) personnel and business matters and just stick to enjoying this hobby for what the hobby is. 

All here can be quite sure that Lionel management is not seeking, and almost surely does not need, the "business consultancy services" provided by us online forum people.  

Besides, we all know that they should relocate the whole kit-and-kaboodle to Roanoke, in the heart of real railroading country, for a whole bunch of reasons.   

How many people does Lionel employ?

Jon - ironically after my company moved us to central NC in 1991, I was promoted to Deputy General Manager of ABB Systems Control Division which at the time had its SCADA development lab - where my job was - right down the street from you location now - maybe a three- minute walk I suppose  It was/is a lovely area and I understand why you don't want to leave.  I particularly liked Saratoga, where my boss lived, but I left our home in NC and commuted by plane for the two and one half years I had that job.

I'm just being selfish: would love to have you and more like Lionel here in NC.  I do some work/sell some ideas from time to time for toys, etc., and its much more fun than my day job.

I was not offended by the comments, just wanted to note I am too entrenched in this area, and am happy with were I live.   I moved from Columbus OH, to CA when I was very young(21).  My 6 week old daughter rode in the front of a U-Haul truck through some scary times in traveling snow bound and icy roads.  It was real tough on my wife at the time, away from every thing she knew and her family.  Those memories are long lasting...

Relocating across country is non-trivial for me, and I did truly consider the NC location.  Housing is great around Lake Norman, and you actually get land!  Many advantages exist in NC, to be certain.  For me it is just not in the cards.

Just keep your video conferencing account up to date Jon.   You must be an early riser, it's only 6:15 out there.

Al Kolis,

   Hope all works out well for Lionel in NC, good business move and for those who live off other peoples taxes, and we have way to many of these paracites today, individual or business, they need to make their own way in life and stay out other businesses and individuals back pocket.  Congress shall write not law for the redistribution of wealth.  Hope to do business with you in NC some time.

PCRR/Dave

C'mon Jon, we actually have frequent earthquakes in the N.C. Mountains so you won't be homesick[although we don't notice them during the event and have to read the "breaking news" reports].

The Grandfather Fault actually runs in the Elk River Valley down-mountain 1K yards from our cottage. It is always interesting when we visit to examine what has moved about on the glass shelves while Grandfather "danced". Photo of a little Fall color at 3,500' above the fault in the gorge.

ps:

thanks for your Lionel tech work and frequent responses online!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!