New Ravenna Propels Global Brand from Rural Location

Home is Where the Heart Is

New Ravenna is a premier designer and manufacturer of stone and glass mosaic tiles based in Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The company creates handcrafted mosaics for both residential and commercial installations that are sold through nearly 200 exclusive designer showrooms across the United States and internationally.

Founded in 1992 by Eastern Shore-native Sara Baldwin, New Ravenna has grown to become the largest private-sector employer in Northampton County. The company’s new CEO began expanding the company’s marketing reach in 2016, causing demand for its luxury products to skyrocket and propelling New Ravenna towards its next stage of development. Virginia’s unique assets would allow the company to achieve its full growth potential while also preserving its deep ties to the Eastern Shore community and workforce.

The Virginia Solution

An International Gateway

New Ravenna’s products are shown, sold, and shipped across the world, requiring direct access to national and international markets. The company navigates the global marketplace through the Port of Virginia, which is the third-largest port on the East Coast by total TEUs and one of the Commonwealth’s most valuable resources for importers and exporters. This modern port is served by every primary shipping line that connects Virginia with major ports throughout the world, and a massive project is underway to dredge the Norfolk Harbor, the commercial channels, and ocean approaches to 55 feet deep. Scheduled for completion in late 2024, Virginia will then be home to the deepest port on the U.S. East Coast and fully equipped to accommodate New Ravenna’s international growth for years to come.

Growth on All Fronts

In an effort to execute its ambitious international growth strategy, New Ravenna made the decision to invest nearly $1 million in its manufacturing operation in Northampton County. In June 2018, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam joined the company and partners to celebrate the project in his native Eastern Shore and commended New Ravenna for creating 31 new jobs and reinvesting in the region.

The same year, New Ravenna was accepted into VEDP’s two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, which assists companies in the Commonwealth that are seeking export growth in international markets. The VALET program will support New Ravenna’s expansion with export planning services and assistance from a team of experienced global service providers that include attorneys, web designers, bankers, translators, accountants, and freight forwarders.

Since the company’s founding nearly 30 years ago, the Eastern Shore has remained an integral part of New Ravenna’s success story. The region’s dependable labor force of over 20,000 provides the necessary talent and craftsmanship for the manufacture of world-class products, while its strategic location ensures that the sky is the limit for New Ravenna’s growth.

In the past year, New Ravenna has expanded its manufacturing capabilities, allowing its designers to add innovative and globally in-demand designs, materials, and product lines to its vast and growing portfolio. Representatives from the company have attended and displayed products at international tradeshows, opened showrooms in Japan, London, and Dublin, and have been introduced to potential suppliers, specifiers, and distributors around the world.