NEWS

Longaberger consultants happy with move from Newark

Barrett Lawlis
Reporter

DRESDEN - For Bethany Faison, of Zuni, Virginia, making the trip for the annual Longaberger Bee was a way to visit the people behind the scenes, the ones making the baskets she sold.

"I always came back to visit the business itself, to meet the weavers," she said. "It was great to make a connection with them and it makes selling the baskets that much better for me."

Longaberger's annual meeting was held in Dresden for the second year in a row and kicked off Thursday and wound down with the Buzz into Dresden event, which brought the company's consultants from all over the country into the village's many basket and craft shops.

This year's Bee came just after the company moved out of the basket building in Newark. Many consultants said that was a positive move for the company.

"The move back to Dresden is very good. It's perfect that we're all back into one unit now, we're getting back to how we started," Faison said.

She said she's had people tell her the move means the company is closing. She's corrected them, saying the move is one of unity, a move that was meant to better the company.

Kelli Hamilton, of Woodhaven, Michigan, echoed Faison's sentiment that the company is stronger than ever.

"We've got a history of heritage here in Dresden, and it's reinforced now that everything is back here," she said. "We're already starting to see more vendors at the homestead (in Frazeysburg) with newer merchandise. Now maybe the village will follow suit."

Hamilton has been coming to the Bee for almost seven years. For her, it's a chance to find unique baskets and a chance to meet with other consultants from across the country.

"It's a great time to hang out with people, everyone is always so nice and pleasant," she said.

Carmy Jordan, Gay Oliver and Cindy McCrocklin, all from Kentucky, have been coming to the Bee for almost 20 years. They agreed that the move back to Dresden was a step in the right direction.

"It just means we as a company is living within our means now," Oliver said.

The three woman also said they plan on coming back to the bee.

"We all like it, it's a great way to get inspiration and make friendships with other consultants," McCrocklin said. "It's really just a fun girls' weekend out."

For Faison, Longaberger products have a special place for her. Her husband was attending seminary school in the late 1990s, and money was tight for their household. But he went out of his way to make sure that Faison got the Christmas collection basket for 1996 and '97.

"That's what these baskets mean to me and to a lot of people. These are just quality products, and coming back to Dresden is like coming back home for all of us," Faison said.

blawlis@gannett.com

740-328-8822

Twitter: @BarrettLawlis