Michigan Business Beat | JT Weis, Rapid Line Inc. Midwest Design Innovation

Michigan Business Network

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes JT Weis, Managing Director, Rapid Line Incorporated, Grand Rapids, MI. 1. Could you give readers and listeners a brief overview of Studio Wise/Rapid Line and what both companies are bringing to the B2B sphere? 2. Who are Studio Wise and Rapid Line hoping to serve through this new partnership? 3. When it comes to modernizing B2B quoting and getting your products into the hands of your customers with more efficiency, what goals and upcoming initiatives will this partnership focus on? 4. How does Studio Wise hope to leverage its standing within the design industry to accelerate its growth in the upscale hospitality market? 5. The acquisition is part of a broader strategy to diversify Rapid Line’s business to now include high-quality products, which will strengthen its model, can you explain the vision behind this? 6. What can Studio Wise and Rapid Line partners expect in the coming months? Rapid Line Incorporated Acquires Studio Wise Design Major metal fabrication player enters upscale hospitality table market. [Grand Rapids, MI, March 25, 2024]: Rapid Line Incorporated, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and recognized as an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), has announced its acquisition of Studio Wise Design, also based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rapid Line is a prominent Midwest metal component manufacturer operating across various sectors, including office furniture, outdoor furniture, all-terrain vehicles, and medical equipment. “The Studio Wise product lines are of high design and quality. We intend to leverage this and accelerate Studio Wise’s growth in the upscale hospitality market,” states Rick Van Dis, Rapid Line President & CEO. The acquisition is part of a broader strategy to diversify Rapid Line’s business to now include high-quality products, which will strengthen its model. Van Dis continues, “Rapid Line has a strong foundation and reputation of on-time service and high quality. Our recent plant automation and equipment investments will support the Studio Wise growth plan.” Studio Wise is the designer table of choice in many well-known culinary destinations and resorts, including Gordon Ramsay restaurants, Sunda Asian, Marriott Hotels, Hard Rock Resorts, and several other luxury destinations. “Studio Wise has produced beautifully designed, high-quality products. Over the past couple of years, we’ve been focused on modernizing B2B quoting and get our products into the hands of our customers more efficiently. Our new platform disrupts the way manufacturers and the architecture & design community quote and specify furniture. This acquisition by Rapid Line will allow us to go much further and truly grow our business to the level we know we can achieve,” Troy Bosworth, Studio Wise founder. Troy Bosworth intends to remain on board to provide consultation and support for the company's vision, with a primary focus on product design and bolstering the implementation of aggressive growth strategies. ### Rapid Line Incorporated is a full-service metal fabrication and contract manufacturer headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. More than just metal fabricators, Rapid-Line integrates plastics, wood, fabric, cork, and glass into custom-finished products. Rapid-Line was founded in 1926 and expanded manufacturing space three times with a current capacity of 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space and approximately 100 employees.