Elkhart RV supplier turns to making line of purses, totes to keep jobs (pass the word)

[Are_grits_groceries]

This could be a story about another downtrodden Elkhart County RV supplier that laid off most of its work force and is struggling to stay in business during the economic downturn.

Instead, this is an example of how ingenuity and determination created a new product for the Goshen-based company to manufacture during the downturn, thereby allowing some employees to return to work.

Decorator Industries has switched gears during the recession, swapping RV window treatments and bedding for shopping bags, totes and trendy purses. Some area retailers plan to stock the bags by the dozens, which means the company hopes to call a couple of dozen laid-off workers back.

"We're one local company helping another local company and the economy," said Pam Mitchell, who plans to stock the bags at her Gingerbread Cottage stores in Mishawaka and Elkhart. "They're bringing people back to work to make these bags. How great is that?"


http://www.decoratorindustries.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=69

http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/

Keep on keeping on!

[AndyTiedye]

1. Very Very Kicked and Recommended

:kick:

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. K&R

[LisaM]

3. Small tote is pretty cute

This is excellent. During Prohibition, a lot of beer companies started making other products, too - Stroh's made ice cream, for example. It can be done.

[ellacott]

4. Wow, I'm going to contact this company, Thanks

I make handbags(on hiatus because of surgery). The manufacturing business is non-existent in the United States. Most manufacturing is done in China. Quality is frequently a problem. I know quite a few bag designers who want to use U.S. manufacturers.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. kick nt

[Jokerman]

6. Elkhart jobless rate at 18%

Good employment news from that area has been hard to come by.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009904020398

[earth mom]

7. Made in America! Hell Yes!

:applause:

[jannyk]

8. k&r

[Warpy]

9. Those look really neat

to the point I wish I needed one, which I don't.

Maybe they'll branch out into grocery bags.

[maxsolomon]

14. that's the problem, isn't it?

no one NEEDS more handbags - my mom (RIP) went on a compulsive shopping tear before her death - my dad has a bag full of handbags in the basement - the planet is saturated with consumer goods.

the grocery bag idea is pretty good, tho.

[Warpy]

15. I actually went and LOOKED

and they have those, too.

Alas, I have them in canvas, string, and naugahyde, thanks to years of shopping on the street in Boston.

[Are_grits_groceries]

10. kick once more. nt

[XOKCowboy]

11. With a concentration of RV builders I'll bet that Elkhart and Mishawaka are in trouble...

Glad to see that they're helping each other through the hard times. K&R

[SoCalDem]

12. Damn.. just went there to try & buy some, and could not

had to leave name & email..

They are missing out on sales, by not allowing people buy buy off their website

[Are_grits_groceries]

13. last kick nt