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Longaberger Review - Taking Old Roots to Produce New Profits
by Randy Myers
Thirty five years ago the Longaberger Company was begun but today's company is based in those early roots and traditions. This mission statement was created when the company began; "To Stimulate a Better Quality of Life," and the ideals of this mission statement ring true today.
Today, the company provides a variety of handcrafted products, including baskets, pottery, and wrought iron accessories, and gives a chance at self-employment to approximately 45,000 Home Consultants.
Company History
In 1896, the Longaberger family moved to Dresden, Ohio which was a busy villlage at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. At the time, baskets were the container of choice, and the Dresden Basket Factory made baskets for carrying all types of things like pottery ware. The J.W. Longaberger artistic trademark basket design was learned while serving as a full-time apprentice at the local factory. During this period, he met Bonnie Jean Gist, whom he married in 1927.
The Great Depression closed the doors of the factory, forcing J.W. to take work at the paper mill, although he still made baskets during his free time. In 1936, he and Bonnie purchased the old basket factory, which they renamed The Ohio Ware Basket Company. The family eventually grew to include a total of 12 children. The family was of a low economic status. Dave, the 5th child, also suffered from epilepsy and a very bad stutter. In spite of this, Dave was ambitious, and as a young boy, he was continually taking odd jobs to earn money.
As Dave matured, he served two years in the Army and ended up driving a bread truck. After his daughter Tami was born, Dave and his wife bought the Dairy Bar in Dresden, as well as an old grocery. Together they remodeled the grocery store building and reopened it as Dresden IGA Foodliner. These two businesses were how he supported his own growing family. The trend toward popularity of baskets in the 1970s caused Dave to ask his father, J.W. to make baskets to be sold in the store. The baskets were so popular that they sold out immediately. Sadly, J.W. passed away just as the baskets started to become popular.
To honor his father, Dave opened J.W. Handwoven Baskets in 1976. He was even able to buy and use the old woolen mill that his mother worked in when he was a child. To expand his basket business, Dave knew he needed to sell them in other locales, not just locally. In 1978, he realized that the most effective way to showcase the Longaberger baskets was using a home consultant, and the direct sales model began.
Dave's daughter Tami joined the company in 1984 and was appointed president in just 10 years. She influenced the company to become more diversified into other home lifestyle areas. The company is now the leading manufacturer of handcrafted home-style products including baskets.
Longaberger Products
Today, the Longaberger Company still features a wide line of decorative baskets. This includes decorative baskets, college and sports team baskets, seasonal baskets as well as other items like candles, pottery, wrought iron accessories and tableware. There is even a Collector's Club for enthusiasts.
How to Join the Company
If you have a love of handcrafted things including baskets and also want to run your own business, becoming a Longaberger Home Consultant may be the best home based business prospect for you.
Home consultants produce a 25% commission from their sales, can earn free products, will have access to their own free website, and have the opportunity to be part of a truly American company. You can be your own boss, choosing when and where to work. Understanding people have different goals for being self-employed; Longaberger offers four different starter kits to choose from. These kits start at just $49 and all have the 100% Money Back Guarantee feature. You can determine your own level of success based on the time and effort you invest in your own Longaberger business.
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