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Do IT this week: Layering
Sales of these consumer products can aid the local economy
By Paula Schleis
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Saturday, Oct 24, 2009
Think manufacturing is dead in Northeast Ohio?
Tell that to the 279,918 people employed by goods-producing companies in the 16-county region last year.
Certainly, many things — from your computer to your clothes — probably came from overseas sources. But you might be surprised at the name brands you can buy that benefit a local company.
No doubt you already know that purchasing Goodyear and Bridgestone tires helps keep 4,000 Akron-area workers employed, and you can hardly go down a grocery store aisle without spotting a product line owned by the J.M. Smucker Co.
in Orrville.
But did you know that every Rold Gold pretzel rod in the United States comes from a plant in Canton, or that energy-efficient light bulbs are made by an Aurora company?
In this report and others to come, the Beacon Journal will highlight nationally distributed brands with strong ties to our local economy.
Here's this week's shopping list:
Baskets
• Hand-crafted baskets are made at American Traditions Basket Co. in Canal Fulton, which employs 25 making about 100,000 items a year. Many American Traditions baskets are purchased for fundraisers by groups around the country, but individuals can buy the baskets — which retail for $25 to $75 — at the company Web site: http://www.americantraditionsbaskets.com.
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Containers
• Rubbermaid food and storage containers are made in Mogadore. Newell Rubbermaid employs some 800 people at the production facility, as well as 119 more at a distribution operation in Wooster. Rubbermaid products can be purchased at many retail locations.
Light bulbs
• TCP Inc., which employs more than 180 at its Aurora headquarters, research and testing facility, makes CFL-style energy-efficient light bulbs. Look for the EcoSmart brand at Home Depot, and the DuraBright brand in Sears and Kmart stores. DuraBright will also be sold at Save-a-Lot by the end of the year.
Food
• J.M. Smucker Co. employs 1,231 at its Orrville plant, which produces Smucker's fruit spreads. The company owns many other recognizable brands, including Folgers, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, Jif, Crisco, Pillsbury, Eagle Brand, Hungry Jack, R.W. Knudsen Family, Knott's Berry Farm, White Lily and Martha White. In addition to selling at traditional grocery, club and drug stores, there is a brand showcase store in Orrville, and products are sold online at http://www.smuckers.com.
• There are several Frito-Lay plants in Ohio making snacks that are shipped regionally, but what qualifies the company for this list is the Frito-Lay factory in Canton — the nation's sole provider of the Rold Gold pretzel rod. The plant's 175 employees produce 34 million pounds of Rold Gold product annually, available at most food stores.
Lawn and garden
• Look for any seed, fertilizer or specialty soil under the name Scotts or Miracle-Gro, available at home improvement stores and retail chains. The company, with headquarters in central Ohio, opened a manufacturing plant in Orrville this summer. It expects to create 63 jobs in three years.
Novelty
• A long-time business-to-business company in Brunswick has introduced its first retail product: Football player lawn inflatables. Inflatable Images produces both collegiate and pro football players in their respective team uniforms, from 5- to 8-feet tall. For information on where to buy the inflatable mascots, visit http://www.inflatableimages.com.
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Shaving cream
• The maker of Barbasol (those candy-striped containers) and Pure Silk (a shaving product for women) is investing $7.25 million in a new plant in Ashland. Perio Inc., headquartered in the Columbus area, plans to open a 78,000-square-foot facility by April, employ 30 people, and whip up 24 million units of shaving cream a year.
Tires
• Goodyear is headquartered in Akron, and many of its 3,000 local employees are involved in research and development, as well as the making of race car tires. Goodyear tires are available at company-owned stores, independent outlets and well-known retail chains.
• Bridgestone is headquartered in Tennessee but has about 1,000 employees at its research and development facility in Akron. The local plant also makes race car tires. Bridgestone tires are available at company-owned stores, independent outlets and well-known retail chains.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
Think manufacturing is dead in Northeast Ohio?
Get the full article here.
Comments
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WADSWORTH, OH
Posted 07:14 AM, 10/24/2009
can i post before Loren goes postalistic >?
Posted 11:54 AM, 10/24/2009
Thanks for the info. Paula. Only a few of those I did know about. I thought Frito-Lay was in Green too.
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 12:01 PM, 10/24/2009
Wasn't Rubbermaid doing a bunch of layoffs earlier this year?
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 12:15 PM, 10/24/2009
Wasn't Rubbermaid doing a bunch of layoffs earlier this year?
Orrville, Oh
Posted 05:25 PM, 10/24/2009
Reality demands: Every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; of Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; fund all stimulus packages, property tax abatement, tax incentives, tax credit, tax refunds, tax exemptions. And pay for the more stock dividends (money). Hillarys, Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers) market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price; of EVERY product and service Human Beings use for life. And Government needs to build, maintain, and operate schools; infrastructure; and provide government services; and national security. That gets only product or service.
And fund; unemployed workers, casino, lottery, and keno losers, aliens, waitresses that pander for life for $2.00 per hour; insubordinate, low-income; defiant of realities demands; volunteers without wages; nonunion parasites willing to work for fewer wages than they can afford life; and righteous; with a faith-based belief; that it’s a sin; to engage in free, fair, and affordable commerce; or get an agreement (union contract); With a corporation, business, or nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization, or Church; Agreeing to comply with demands; Of natural law (what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world), God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Paying with welfare checks, food stamps, housing vouchers, and Medicaid!
With money derived from wages or independent business profit.
There is no reason to believe America’s grandchildren’s children can afford life; and fund defying realities demands; with the $7.30 per hour; government mandated labor wage!
Danville, CA
Posted 10:54 PM, 10/24/2009
Rubbermaid does layoffs all the time but they make a good product. I still have Rubbermaid stuff in my kitchen cabinet that I bought fifteen years ago in Ohio.
You can also support US workers by purchasing Pyrex (made in Pennsylvania), Calphalon (owned by Newell Rubbermaid and made in Toledo) and All-Clad (made in Pennsylvania).
You'll notice that All-Clad is the choice of most all gourmet chefs you see on television. It's bulletproof.
I will also tell you that American made appliances make more sense because they're easier to get parts for if you need them. I dare to find a part for a ten year old Bosch dishwasher, where I know for sure I can find things for the ten year old KitchenAid that's in our house.
