Posted on 09/21/2004 11:24:23 AM PDT by lelio
Longaberger Co. revealed plans Monday to put 650 employees on work leave for six weeks. The announcement comes a week after the company cut 215 administrative jobs.
The workers, who make baskets, wood crafts and basket handles at a plant in Frazeysburg, will continue to receive benefits during the furlough. Employees won't receive pay, but will be eligible for government unemployment benefits.
The Newark-based basket maker said it needs to reduce its inventory, and plans to recall the workers after the six weeks.
"As we begin building products to support the expected strong holiday selling period and 2005 business, we'll be counting on those employees to ensure we meet projected customer demand," Jim Gimeson, vice president of manufacturing and human resources, said in a press release.
The company plans to permanently cut 34 basketmaking jobs at its Hartville plant as it moves all basket making to Frazeysburg. It expects to move 76 basket makers to Frazeysburg from Hartville. The Hartville facility will retain 90 wood processing jobs.
Longaberger has eliminated about 1,000 jobs this month, including a sudden cut of 215 administrative and managerial employees last week. Approximately 4,300 workers remain, down from 7,000 employees in 1999.
The Longaberger baskets are pretty and well-made, however they are a tad overpriced (IMHO).
just a tad.
One can only have or use so many pretty, overpriced baskets. They have literally saturated their market.
Every fad has a natural cycle. My wife will need resuscitation.
One displaced worker commented....weave lost our jobs, I'm gonna be a basket case!
Sounds like the company is going to he!!, in a hand-basket
Or maybe they just need to re-locate to Helena!
I didnt consider them well made .....BUT.....the red dinner china is near indestructible -
I dropped one on the garage floor once (on edge) and I kid you not, the sucker bounced back into the air and landed again on the floor - unchipped
I however was shaking like a leaf, thinking I was going to have to blame it on the dog or something
LOL!
I have more baskets than I would want my husband to know about--but I stopped purchasing them about three years ago because I really had all I could use (saturation) and they are just a tad bit pricey.
Maybe someone can come up with a larger image.
Democrats will be weaving baskets for them after November 2.
A tad? Needless to say, IMHO, they are WAY, WAY overpriced...their products are nice, but I just don't see how the "average" person can afford to pay what they sell their baskets for. I saw a sale flyer the other day with a new purse basket...with a $300 price tag. That's ridiculous. We have a good amount of disposable income, but that's just irresponsible to pay $300 for a purse basket...I suspect many others feel the same way.
I hate to see folks getting layed off or losing their jobs all together, but I'm not surprised to see this happen...there's only just so much a person is going to pay for a basket, and Longaberger has brought this on themselves...I think they've priced themselves out of the market...can't compete with those "made in China/made in Taiwan" imports.
I haven't bought one in probably 10 years. Sounds like the prices have continued to skyrocket if they're asking $300 for them these days. They were overpriced 10 years ago, but what they must be going for now is ridiculous!!
I haven't bought one in probably 10 years. Sounds like the prices have continued to skyrocket if they're asking $300 for them these days. They were overpriced 10 years ago, but what they must be going for now is ridiculous!!
Really? That's interesting about your baskets. Did you enjoy shopping for them? What color are they?
Some time I'll have to tell you all about my shopping trip to Tuesday Morning last Friday.
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