M S International (MSI) is a leading distributor of flooring, countertop, wall tile and hardscaping products. Founded in 1975 by a husband and wife team, MSI got its big break in 1981 as the supplier of the black granite for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. Today, MSI has 20 locations across North America and imports over 100 shipments every day. Most of its imports under GSP come from India and Brazil. It remains family-owned and run.
When GSP expired in 2013, MSI raised prices to offset the very significant tariff costs: MSI paid about $8 million in tariffs during the 2-year expiration. With prices up, sales went down, which in turn impacted MSI’s ability to invest in the company’s growth. GSP renewal changed the equation: not only did MSI receive refunds for tariffs paid, but with prices about 10 percent lower its sales went up disproportionately.
Big refunds and even bigger savings going forward helped MSI hire 280 new workers and double its capital expenditures in the year and a half after GSP renewal. MSI’s growth was widespread: it added 10+ workers in 12 different states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington. It also added jobs in Arizona, Minnesota, and Virginia.
Our MSI profile page has more details about the importance of continued GSP benefits to the company (also available as a one-page PDF here or below).
MSI is just one of the GSP importers sharing how GSP allows its businesses and workers to thrive on our Company Profiles page.
