GOSHEN, Ind. - A northern Indiana company that made window coverings and bedding for recreational vehicles has switched to purses and shopping bags now that the market for RVs has soured in the economic downturn.
Decorator Industries hopes to recall several dozen laid-off workers as it begins making the new products at its factory in Goshen, Ind., an area that has been battered by layoffs in the recreational vehicle industry.
The area's 18 percent unemployment rate in February is up 12.5 percentage points from a year ago.
"We have all this fabric that isn't moving, and we have sewing and cutting machines. We wondered, what can we sew? What can we do?" sales manager Donna Gould told the South Bend Tribune.
Ms. Gould got the idea from a tote that was sent to her by a fabric supplier. After sharing the idea with the staff, employees brought various bags and purses from home and started playing with various designs at the plant in the city about 20 miles southeast of South Bend.
They designed and made prototypes of 10 products, including shopping, tote, and carpet bags as well as purses. The company then offered the bags to local stores.With dozens of bags ranging in price from $30 to $35 on order, the company already has called back a few laid-off employees to help fill orders.
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