Charles Norcross noticed the aesthetic and durable quality of bamboo while on a trip overseas when he got a chance to see flooring made from the substance.
Norcross started TruBamboo LLC in Jupiter in 2003 with the mission of making durable products for inexpensive prices.
Brittni Stallings, a spokeswoman for TruBamboo, said about one year ago, the company had grown so large in Jupiter and West Palm Beach that it decided to try its hand in Boynton Beach at 1115 Gateway Blvd.
Customers can pick up bamboo cutting boards for anywhere from $2.99 to $24.99. The manufacturer of bamboo houseware products also sells bamboo bowls, utensils and has dabbled in an array of other bamboo products.
In all, TruBamboo operates and distributes three lines of products with more than 100 items throughout the world. Locally, products can be bought at Publix, Winn-Dixie, and Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Jason Norcross, executive vice president of sales and marketing, said his father had been designing products and selling through these types of channels for more than 35 years.
“He started with patio furniture and even invented the BBQ grilling fork with the thermometer in it,” Jason Norcross said. “When it comes to the success of a product, you need a quality price, packaging, functionality and aesthetics.”
The distribution center, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, does not sell items directly to customers from the 36,000-square-foot facility, but items can be bought through the new Website, www.trubamboo.com.
For information, call 561-832-0628.
Read more about this story in the Oct. 7 issue of the Boynton Forum.