SelectOFALLON Business Spotlight: Merric Millwork and Seating
If you’ve recently stayed at a Marriott Hotel or dined at IHOP, chances are you have sat at a table or booth manufactured by Merric Millwork and Seating. Merric’s custom furniture and finishes can be found in restaurants and hotels across the country and every piece is hand-crafted in the City of O’Fallon.
Merric Millwork started operations more than 30 years ago and the current CEO, Dan Claypool, has owned the company since 2012. At that time, Merric was crammed into just 40,000 square feet with 34 employees. Dan recognized the company’s potential but needed a space that would give Merric room to grow in a location with easy highway access and close to a large pool of skilled labor. O’Fallon fit the bill on all accounts.
“O’Fallon has grown immensely in the last 30 years and its robust manufacturing sector has flourished,” says Dan. “One of the main reasons is the caliber of the workforce here is second to none.”
Today Merric employs nearly 120 skilled workers and fully utilizes 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The SelectOFALLON team was there to help guide Dan through the initial relocation and setup process. Over the last 5 years, the team has assisted on various Merric’s growth projects, including a warehouse expansion and additional employee parking.
SelectOFALLON was also there when Merric faced a potential business disruption. The repair of a leaking water main threatened to shut down Merric’s operations; without water, any plant fire would be disastrous. With a quick call, Dan explained the situation and the SelectOFALLON team responded by getting the repair moved to off-business hours, avoiding the closure, and saving Merric valuable time and money.
“The SelectOFALLON team is well connected and has a wealth of knowledge to resolve any challenges we have faced over the years,” says Dan. “They always know exactly what to do and who to contact.”
The SelectOFALLON team provides more than just assistance during emergencies. Team member Patty Brown connected Dan to St. Charles County’s annual Manufacturing Day. Each October, Merric joins a group of the County’s best manufacturers to provide education and hands-on tours to hundreds of high school students.
“The St. Louis region has a wealth of manufacturing opportunities for our future workforce,” says Dan. “As someone who has been in manufacturing for a very long time, I saw an increasing age gap in skilled labor and believe that, with our help, high school students can fill that gap.”
Merric is another example of a successful O’Fallon manufacturer giving back through its commitment to encouraging, developing, and providing jobs to young workers. Merric recently expanded on this commitment through a partnership with Fort Zumwalt School District to offer apprenticeships for high school students. Dan has quickly become a vocal leader in creating youth career opportunities and is always willing to share his experience and success with other manufacturers.
So, the next time you’re in a restaurant, just take a minute to think about the expertise and craftsmanship required to create the table and chair where you’re seated. It just might be made by O’Fallon’s Merric Millwork and Seating, which are building great products and developing our workforce of the future.