Region news digest: Henn Workshops changes method of selling wares

REGION

Henn Workshops changes method of selling wares

LORDSTOWN — Henn Workshops has stopped using consultants to sell its baskets and pottery at home parties. Instead, it is relying on “preferred customers” to sell its line but it intends to add Internet sales this coming spring. The Lordstown company made the announcement on its Web site. Company officials could not be reached to comment.

Gerald Henn founded the business on the family homestead 26 years ago with just a few employees. In 2004, when Henn was named Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneur of the year in consumer products, the company had $20 million in sales. It employed 115 people at the basket-making shop in Lordstown and 85 at a pottery in New Waterford.

IRS to mail information on stimulus payments

YOUNGSTOWN — Starting next week, the Internal Revenue Service will mail information packages on the 2008 economic stimulus payment to 900,000 Ohioans who are recipients of Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits. The package contains everything the recipients will need to file a 2007 tax form, including Form 1040A for the filer to complete. The package is specially designed for people who may qualify for an economic stimulus payment but who normally aren’t required to file a tax return.

Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, people may be eligible for the minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couple). There also is an additional payment of $300 for people with eligible children younger than 17. However, people must file an income tax return in order to receive the payment.

From Vindicator staff reports