Girard company makes first shipment overseas

Staff report

girard

Soft Touch Furniture, which specializes in custom furniture for multiple industries, has shipped its first international export to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia and the country’s largest city.

The company’s business, at 1560 S. State St., is growing rapidly from its work with restaurant franchise Boardwalk Burgers and Fries and Total Image Graphics, a restaurant- design firm.

Soft Touch already has supplied custom booths, tabletops and chairs to Boardwalk franchises in California, Texas, Oregon and New Jersey.

“This is a very exciting time at Soft Touch,” said owner and president Bob Chudakoff. “Despite the challenging economy the last few years, our manufacturing has defied the trend and increased continually year after year.”

The company has expanded its facility and added to its workforce to accommodate demand.

A Saudi Arabian company has a franchise agreement with Boardwalk. Furniture manufactured in Girard will be used in Saudi Arabia’s first Boardwalk restaurant.

The Soft Touch Furniture shipment includes an entire furniture package of restaurant booths, tabletops and bases, dining chairs and waste receptacles.