Charlotte's been a magnet for international companies in recent years, with nearly 1,000 firms with overseas HQs operating here, according to Charlotte Chamber Economic Development. The number continues to grow.

Here are Printful CEO Davis Siksnans and the Latvian ambassador to the US, Andris Teikmanis, cutting a ribbon recently for Printful's new 100k SF facility at 11025 Westlake Drive in Charlotte. It's the company's second US facility, after one in Chatsworth, CA. Printful is based in Latvia and prints and ships products such as T-shirts, mugs and posters for e-commerce retailers.

“We estimate that our California [US] headquarters will max out by the end of this year,” Davis says. “Opening a new location now lets us prepare for peak season and it gives us more room to grow in 2017." He adds that the company picked North Carolina because it's home to other established textile companies, and offers proximity to Printful's suppliers and printers, and to an experienced workforce.

Davis says the expansion to Charlotte is its first step to opening more global locations. When the new facility is fully operational, about 70% of all orders will be printed there.

Printful is part of the Draugiem Group, a Latvian IT company that launched the country's first social network platform in 2004, and is home to 14 other successful startups. Foundry Commercial's Warren Snowdon and David Hanna repped the landlord in the deal, while Avison Young's Christopher Skibinski and Alex Spears repped the tenant.