That is very interesting. Thanks for taking the time to share it with all of us.
Wow. The basket market must be pretty good.
It used to be much better, but they’ve done a pretty good job of diversifying, so I think they’re still doing pretty well. (Their stuff is EXPENSIVE.)
I buy a lot of plants at a nursery that’s just across the highway from the Longaberger Building. I alternate between being horrified and impressed by the building. This week I’m leaning toward impressed.
I approve. These people clearly know how to have fun with baskets.
On the other hand, the first link in the OP has also introduced me to the Precious Moments Chapel.
I really don’t know what to say about that.
I first learned about the building on the show “Made in America”. Absolutely fascinating.
Yeah, that’s only about 15 minutes from my mom’s house. We drive past it every time we go to visit her. I gotta say, it’s seen better days. We were just down that way last week or so, and you can see peeling paint on the basket handles. They aren’t maintaining it like they used to. I am thinking that the collectible basket industry is not doing quite as well as it once did.
As a side note, going to high school in Dresden, OH (aka Basketville USA! Home of Longaberger! BUY A BASKET GODDAMMIT!!) was kind of surreal sometimes. We’d get busloads of tourists on their way to the basket factory pointing out the windows at us, like, “Look! Natives!”
Me too. The Other Half loves that show and a lot of what they profile is incredibly interesting. Like on this, the technical details make it all that much more something I’d like to visit if I had the chance.
My mom has a bunch of their baskets and inserts and stuff. She’s been to the factory (her best friend’s daughter is a dealer, so they got to go with her for some event.)
I don’t understand the appeal. I like baskets but those, not so much. All a matter of taste, I guess.
You’re from Dresden, Ohio? That is SO AWESOME! You must have some amazing basket-related anecdotes to share! This is an incredible opportunity. What’s your favorite kind of basket? Were any of your relatives killed in WWII when the Allies bombed the basket factories?
I have actually never owned a Longaberger basket in my life. As far as basket and/or bombing related anecdotes, the closest thing I have is that one time in high school, this kid Robbie that I knew tried to burn down the World’s Largest Basket. (Not the office building; prior to that, there was an actual basket, about the size of a small house, that made the Guinness Book for World’s Largest Basket. There was a gift shop inside.) Anyway, it turned out that the World’s Largest Basket had been coated with some kind of fireproofing substance, so all Rob managed to do was to leave a 2-foot-long scorch mark down the side.
Okay, I have to admit that I wasn’t actually expecting any basket-related anecdotes. Especially one involving fire… You totally called my bluff there. I’m genuinely impressed.