HENN WORKSHOPS Owner wins entrepreneurial award
The local businessman will compete to be named the nation's top entrepreneur.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
LORDSTOWN -- Gerald Henn is being honored as a top entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio, but foreign imports have him wondering how long his business can continue making baskets and pottery the way it has.
For 22 years, Henn Workshops has been known for its handmade, country-style products.
It has been so successful that the founder was named this week as Northeast Ohio's entrepreneur of the year in the consumer products division. He will advance to a national event in the competition sponsored by the Ernst & amp; Young accounting firm.
Despite the award, Henn said holding onto the company's values is difficult because of the threat from inexpensive foreign products.
"Automation goes counter to our culture. Importing goes counter to our culture, so we just keep holding out and holding out," Henn said.
The Lordstown workshop employs 115 people, who take large logs and turn them into baskets and other wood items. A pottery the company owns in New Waterford employs 85.
How it's grown
Henn, 49, created the business on the family homestead with just a few employees. It now has $20 million in annual sales.
He said he isn't sure how long the company's marketing strategy can stand up, noting that American potteries have been reduced from 60 to 12 in recent years. His company's costs rise each year, as insurance, utilities and regulatory costs continually increase.
"American-made goods are being priced out of the marketplace. It's scary," he said.
His company is relying on new designs to keep its products in demand. It introduces 200 new items a year.
Henn said he thinks his company's constant innovation led to him receiving the entrepreneur award Wednesday in Cleveland.
Working on improvements
Not only does the company introduce new products, but officials also try to improve other parts of the business, which relies on 2,200 consultants to sell its products at home parties nationwide. One such innovation was an Internet-based software system that has replaced the paperwork that used to be required of consultants, he said.
Henn said the award honors the employees of the company.
"It's their award. I'm the visionary, but these are the people who do the work and carry everything out. It's really for them," he said.
People are nominated for the award by committees set up by the award program. A panel of judges interviews each nominee.
Last year, Henn was named as one of three finalists in the consumer products category. By winning this year, he heads to Palm Springs, Calif., in November for the national competition. A winner will be announced in each of 10 categories, as well as an overall winner.
shilling@vindy.com