As many of you know Signature Needle Arts is based at the “mother ship” Bothe Associates Inc which is an almost 60 year old manufacturing company. While the knitting needle business has been wonderful –thanks completely to the response by the knitting world to Signature needles–the manufacturing world is not such a happy place. I hope you will indulge me as I take off my Signature hat and put on my Bothe hat.
The world of manufacturing has been hard hit with the downturn in the economy. At Bothe not only do we make Signature needles but parts that are much bigger, much flatter, much more complicated. In past downturns we hardly noticed because of the wide range of customers—from hydraulics to medical devices to vacuum cleaner parts. We have customers who have worked with us for decades but every one of them is down too.
The sad result is that we have people and machines just waiting to make bigger parts than needles. Bothe can make round things with a diameter of 16”—not even the hugest knitting needle is anywhere near that! Flat things we can make up to 9 feet long. We know that many of you may have some contact with folks who are buying machined parts for various industries and we want to offer a win-win proposition: If any of you can help us get a chance to work with a new customer we will arrange for a “finder’s fee” –either in needles or cash.
Just to repeat there will be no effect on knitting needle production—really. And the circulars will be made even if the machines that can take a bar of big material are busy instead of idle! So put on your thinking hats and see if you can think of anyone who needs parts of metal or plastic. It really will be a win-win.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I’m just waiting for the circular needles to come out. What information is available?
November 5th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Circular needles? I can’t wait. I also heard a RUMOR that they were coming out with an interchangeable circular set. Any truth to that?
November 5th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Good Luck! I hope your non-needle business picks up soon, and I also hope you can expand your knitting/craft related business. Your needles are beautiful, so I’m sure everything you make is well crafted.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I wish I knew of one. You all ready work with my husband’s company. Good luck on the hunt.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
What a brilliant idea, to put this out to knitters!!! We all know people: I hope you get some business from this out of the box thinking!
Alas, all my family and close friends tend to be accoutants, programmers, teachers and so forth. The ones who make things are on the crafty side, not the industrial side. I will pass this on, though, to the knitters I know who work in more technical fields!
I wish you a lot of luck with this approach. Then, when you get it, maybe you will also get a write-up some where about your brilliant idea, which might then bring in even more business. I am all for my fellow Americans being employed!
November 5th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I don’t know of anyone at this time, but I certainly will put my ear to the ground. I think it is so important that we manufacture here instead of overseas. I’m so excited about the circulars and can’t wait for them to be available. Your needles are the best I have ever experienced. This is from someone who as needles everywhere!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
i just got my first pair of you needles and they are the best i have ever worked with. i cant wait to get more. from what i have read in previous posts i also cant wait till there are circs.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Hi,
I know of a company that used to be owned by a friend of mine. They are no longer, so I don’t have an “in” with them. The company is called ECS, supplies the airline industry, and is based in Franklin, Wis. I have no idea if it’s a fit, but it’s another Wisconsin-based company. Good luck!! I wish you and your employees the absolute best. Go Kenosha! Go Wisconsin!
November 5th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Stryker comes to mind, but I have no idea if they do their own or have others make for them. Good Luck, I’ll keep thinking!!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I will be on the lookout for anyone who needs parts manufactured. I know that you are a top notch manufacturer because your needles are just wonderful. I can’t wait for the circulars to come out!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Try NewPage it is a paper procucing Mill, but has a base in Ohio, and I am sure they would need manufacturers of large products of either machinery or other types…..check and see,, it never hurts to try.
GOOD LUCK!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Can’t wait for those circulars…any idea when we might be seeing them?
November 5th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Will definitely keep the look out…..Hmmmm……
Looking forward to those circulars!
November 5th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Well, I would think that the energy business could use machined parts. There are wind farms and more traditional energy (oil and gas) production companies that are active in North America – surely they could use your operation. I will ask a sibling in the business if there are opportunities for your company. Good luck!
November 6th, 2009 at 5:19 am
I am a teacher in a large inner city school and will start spreading the word.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:19 am
I am anxious for Christmas to come as I have a pair of Signature Needles on my Wishlist. I have seen your needles in person and just love them.
May 4th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Well it’s not a new customer, but it is a related line of business. Have you thought of creating your own Circular Sock Machine? Email me more more information.