topic Re: For Longaberger fans.... in Home

For Longaberger fans....

Catlady Nicole — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:43:29 GMT

Thought this was kind of interesting.....You can find it on the Heritage Ohio website.

"Take an exclusive tour of one of Ohio's most unique buildings

About this Event

On Sunday, October 20th, you will have a rare opportunity to take a tour of the former headquarters of The Longaberger Company, known to many as the "Big Basket."

Tour the 1st & 2nd floors of the Basket
Hear stories and company lore from Longaberger Family members and former Longaberger employees
Enjoy a picnic outside the Basket with food options available for purchase provided by area food trucks
Live music provided by Barley Bros.
Enjoy autumnal bliss in Licking County

Day of ticket price $20"

Re: For Longaberger fans....

4kitties — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 20:01:50 GMT

It is a beautiful building inside. At least it was when I toured it back in the 90’s, in the heyday of Longaberger! So sad that this company is gone. Hope they get a good turnout.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

BirkiLady — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 23:46:08 GMT

They were really popular for gifts in the '80's and '90's. I finally gave my Longaberger baskets to Goodwill when my son moved out. If he didn't take stuff, I got rid of it! That was many, many years ago. Imagine that's where many of the baskets still reside. Wonder if Goodwill dusts them?

It would have been fun to tour Longaberger when in operation.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

HangingTen — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 00:17:10 GMT

They used to offer a basket making event where customers could customize a basket. Took several of those and the helper wouldn't let the basket leave until it was perfect. Everything was pricey but they were fun vacations

Re: For Longaberger fans....

Still Raining — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 00:30:09 GMT

I still have two of their baskets. They must be thirty years old now. Can see them from here, all full of things I need to keep track of.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

ValuSkr — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 01:04:04 GMT

It's an interesting building, inside and out. Here's the current real estate listing - it has a lot of photos.

http://www.naiorc.com/Properties?enableCookie=true&propertyId=1500-E-Main-St

And this article from April 2019 tells what's happened to the building - the Big Basket - since Longaberger went out of business.

https://archpaper.com/2019/04/ohios-big-basket-building-for-sale/https://archpaper.com/2019/04/ohios-big-basket-building-for-sale/

Re: For Longaberger fans....

deeva — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 01:56:45 GMT

I have a couple of Longaberger baskets, but I switched to Peterboro when QVC began selling them.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

Catlady Nicole — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 11:44:33 GMT

@ValuSkr, wow, thank you for those links! It's absolutely beautiful inside. Wish my office building looked like this.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

Mominohio — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 18:05:10 GMT

The sisters are supposed to be making a comeback and bringing the company back.

It is a bit of mystery right now, and supposedly some legal things to be worked out, but there is a facebook page by Rachael Longaberger that is heavily hinting the company will be back.

Some former employees already started a new basket company, I think it is called Dresden and Company. They are already up and running and selling, from what I've seen online, so I wonder how two companies in the same area (I'm assuming Longaberger will come back in that area) will fare.

Being from Ohio, I have lots of Longaberger baskets. Most of mine were purchased second hand for cheap. I only ever bought a couple full price way back in the early days.

Would be happy to see them up and running again, but I just have my doubts that they could ever be as strong as in the past. I just don't see baskets ever making the comeback in home decor or even use, like they once were, for a significant enought portion of the population to make it a real success.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 12:10:42 GMT

I have a many of their baskets, my girl friend has A LOT, and I mean a lot....I enjoy the ones I have and use them when possible. I did sell some that I did not like.

I doubt like @Mominohio says, they can make a return to the retail market and be profitable.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

SahmIam — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 13:38:11 GMT

I know Longaberger has been mentioned a few times here. Have to agree with @Mominohio and @Mom2Dogs; I seriously doubt they can bring the company back to what it once was.

Unless they were to seriously lower the price on whatever they would offer, I can't see the majority of their original customer base paying over 200 for a basket, liner and protector like they did back in the 90's.

Good luck to them, though.

The inside of their old headquarters is amazing!

Re: For Longaberger fans....

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 19:19:06 GMT

@SahmIam I paid a lot for some baskets, as did my friend that has a ton of baskets, as well as the dinnerware, pottery and other 'extras'. It was fun way back in the day, waiting to see the next new interesting basket. I really have on interest in buying anymore and would guess the younger generation has even less desire. I am glad I have what I have and do enjoy using them.

I did look at the webstie (think it was ex employees) that have created a new line of pottery, etc. Their things were expensive.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

SahmIam — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 20:37:56 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I signed up to be a consultant JUST to get the discount. I had SO many baskets; sold the majority of them for pennies on the dollar

The ones I kept, I use almost daily and love the seasonal ones. The dishes and bakeware I LOVE and bought just about everything they made before the quality went down and it went to China.

I also invested in the bed items. The quality was top of the line and worth every penny; my guest room is Longaberger bed, shams, drapes, pillows as was my sunroom (those valances are now on widow in my stairwells). What they produced before things went south were the best quality around. So sad it changed.

I said bye-bye when the hand cream, the purses, the JUNK started coming out and they started with all new dishes. Bad idea IMHO but that's how it went.

I do not see them doing well; it's a WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD now. Those days are gone.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

4kitties — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 19:14:29 GMT

So surprised to hear the girls want to start up again. They pretty much ran the company into the ground after Dave died. Made a lot of poor choices and changes. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 20:51:19 GMT

I used to have hundreds of baskets. I still have tons of pottery, been to Dresden, Frazeyburg, Eschman Meadows, the Big Basket many times. The once great company started by Dave Longaberger ran into trouble due to the changes in decorating tastes and the poor decisions of his daughters, especially Tami. Maybe this tour will help the county recoup some portion of back taxes she owes. The last time I went by the Big Basket it was in great need of a new paint job. It’s really too bad, it used to be a great place and fun area to visit.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

blackhole99 — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 02:56:50 GMT

I bought the pie basket tonight in warm brown, I do have a cake basket I bought 25 years ago. I hope people will buy the baskets, they are being made in Ohio. It will be interesting to see if it's the same quality, the price is right. I paid around the same for my basket all those years ago.

Re: For Longaberger fans....

tipsy — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 16:39:31 GMT

@blackhole99 I hope you love the basket, I think it's very pretty & functional. I didn't buy it because I already have a LOT of Longaberger...a quick look in my kitchen just now I counted 20 baskets! Love the Warm Brown color...