Spencer Ralston

Omar Morales

State Industries, StateMix, StateCraft: trio of Winnipeg firms under one roof, one mantra

Popcorn, rollerblades and the Baha’i faith are all part of Payam Towfigh’s story.

Born in Iran, the 59-year-old is the president and CEO of the State Group, a collection of three companies all headquartered under the same roof in Winnipeg.

They include State Industries Ltd., the manufacturer of polyurethane parts where Towfigh started his career in 1989 while completing an engineering degree at the University of Manitoba. He purchased the company from founder Stan Baldwin three years later.

“I really wasn’t planning to take over State Industries,” Towfigh says, before adding with a smile: “My kids tell me that I’m not very employable since I’ve only had one job in my life.”

Salvation Army calls on Winnipeggers to donate merchandise as sales soar

The Salvation Army is taking donated merchandise from other regions to stock its Winnipeg thrift stores as increasing sales outpace local donations.

Retail activity at the charity’s eight Winnipeg locations grew more than 10 per cent year over year during several months, from January through April, and again in June.

Although local donations remain strong, they haven’t kept pace with demand, prompting the organization to supplement inventory with merchandise from elsewhere.

Ted Troughton, managing director of the Salvation Army’s thrift store operations, said rising living costs are bringing in new customers.