Couple launch wire business in Murrells Inlet

Horry County has a new, homegrown manufacturing company, the regional economic development group announced Thursday.

Southeast Specialty Wire and Cable LLC, which local residents Jim and Sandy Stanton have launched in Murrells Inlet, has five employees and is expected to hire 25 more over the next five years.

The couple have worked in the wire and cable industry for decades and decided it was time to start their own business.

"We have both always loved the industry, and we just wanted to bring it to where we live," Jim Stanton said. "It's something we've always wanted to do is run our own business."
They plan to hire about six salaried workers who will make between $40,000 and $80,000 a year, and the remainder will be hourly, making $12 to $18 per hour, Jim Stanton said.
They will work with readySC, a division of the S.C. Technical College System, to train local workers, he said.

The business is in a 64,000-square-foot building at the Compass Center near St. James High School, but Southeast Specialty takes up only about 13,000 square feet, Jim Stanton said.

The business got its limited liability company status in August, but it took time to get it up and running, Stanton said.

He has since bought and refurbished 23 pieces of equipment, and those have been operating since March, he said.

It took an $800,000 investment to start the company. Stanton pooled the funds from private investors.

His goal for the first year: $1 million in sales.

Southeast Specialty plans to provide wire and cable products for the automotive, marine and rescue industries, as well as aeronautics...

Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corp.'s CEO, Hugh Owens, hopes the startup will help attract more manufacturers with its success.

"We will be able to demonstrate to other manufacturers that we're increasing in that area," Owens said.