Another Step in our Journey
Posted by Doug McGraw in September 25th 2008
A post from our President, Doug McGraw.
Someone once said, “It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new.” Graco Children’s Products is beginning a new chapter in our 52 year journey. Recently we announced that we will be moving our headquarters from Exton, Pennsylvania to Atlanta, Georgia- the home of Graco’s parent company, Newell Rubbermaid. Obviously this move comes with incredibly mixed emotions as Pennsylvania is the birthplace of our brand and as many of you see on this blog, our people are an important aspect of “who” we are as a company. While most headquarter functions will be relocating, we will be maintaining a portion of our operation in Exton.
We are excited about this change and move because it brings us closer to realizing our vision of “enriching every family’s journey and enhancing every child’s development”. By being in Atlanta with our partners at Newell Rubbermaid, our Graco employees will have ready access to a whole new level of resources and capabilities, ultimately enabling us to meet our consumers’ needs even better.
Graco is a part of the Baby and Parenting Essentials Global Business Unit and we are thrilled to be a GROWING family of brands. Our most recent additions include: a luxury German stroller company (Teutonia) and an Asia-based baby gear company (Aprica). These additions to our family and changes to our business allow us to expand and realize our vision around the world.
While moving to Atlanta will certainly bring some changes to our organization and the way we work, the things that will not change are the core guiding principles that were the birth of our company and continue to guide our business decisions today. We believe these principles can stand the test of time (and location).
Graco was, is and will continue to be:
· Born out of a love for tinkering
· Built in a village based on trust
· Embodied with a passion for being the best
· Committed to doing the right thing
· Dedicated to taking time for the little things
There is no greater job, no greater joy than caring for a child. As a company we have taken part in this colossal effort for more than 50 years. We will continue to do this as we embark on this next step in our own journey.
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Welcome to the ‘hood, Graco! We’re glad to have you.
WOW! I’m so sorry to hear this, although it sounds like a positive move for Graco. But I’m bummed your leaving the area. What will this mean for the Graco bloggers?
As Doug said, this move certainly comes with mixed emotions. A lot of the folks here at Graco, me included, have been in the area for a long time. Fortunately, Graco has given all of us a lot of notice (we actually have until next summer to make the move) to figure out what works best for us and our families. We’re all in the midst of figuring out our next steps now. Stay tuned!
Good luck and hopefully everyone can work this into their lives! As a Graco consumer, I like anything that will help meet my needs better.
Keep up the good work!