By SCBIZ Staff

FLORENCE – Cable television shopping network QVC will begin operations in its Florence County Distribution Center on July 2.

The 1.4 million-square-foot distribution center located on a 265-acre plot of land north of Florence will initially generate more than 400 new jobs within the county. Construction on the $75 million facility began in early 2006. 

“We are delighted to have this caliber of a company in Florence County and we are happy to assist them in future growth within the county,” said Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith. “Florence County Economic Development Authority has worked hard to create an environment within this county conducive to business and industry.”

An invitation-only grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be July 11. Joining Smith and David Foster, the facility’s general manager, for the event will be Gov. Mark Sanford, QVC President Mike George, state Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, R-Florence, and Charles Gould, president of Florence-Darlington Technical College. 

The Florence facility is the fifth distribution center opened in the United States for the multimedia retail giant. QVC ships more than 100 million packages annually and has distributed more than 1 billion packages in its 20-year history.