Longaberger Outlet Opens in Williamsburg Feb. 23

By Amber Lester Kennedy Saturday, February 11, 2012

Longaberger is opening an outlet store in Williamsburg.

Longaberger, known for its collectable woven baskets made from maple, will celebrate the grand opening of its outlet store from Feb. 23 to 26. The weekend celebration will kick off with Longaberger LIVE, a free evening celebrating the brand and its fans from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at Crowne Plaza Williamsburg.

Longaberger LIVE will feature basket-making demonstrations and opportunities to interact with sales experts, who will share tips for organizing, entertaining, decorating and gift-giving. Attendees will also receive free shipping on Longaberger products and have the chance to sign up as home consultants, who sell the products from the company’s catalog. The night will be hosted by Tami Longaberger, chief executive officer of the company and daughter of the company’s founder, Dave Longaberger. To attend the event, call (757) 220-2250.

The outlet store, located next to Food Lion, will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 24. Shoppers can save an additional 20 percent on already discounted merchandise throughout the grand opening event from Feb. 23-26.

The basket company traces its roots back three generations. Founder Dave Longaberger’s father, J.W. Longaberger, took a job with the Dresden Basket Factory in Dresden, Ohio in 1919. Even after the factory closed during the Depression, J.W. continued to make baskets in his spare time.

It was not until the 1970s, however, that Dave suggested his father make a dozen market baskets, resembling picnic baskets, to sell. Soon after, his father died and in tribute, Dave opened a small basket factory, calling it J.W.’s Handwoven Baskets. In 1978, he decided to sell the baskets through a direct marketing approach, using the home consultant model that worked well for Tupperware and Avon.

Tami joined the company after graduation from college in 1984 and was appointed president 10 years later. Today, the company is based in Newark, Ohio and has approximately 45,000 home consultants in the United States. The Williamsburg outlet will be the company’s seventh store location.

Comments  

 

+1 #7 Denise Pietsch 2012-02-26 10:55

The grand opening was GREAT - Hundreds of Longaberger collectors waited in line for the doors to open and it was a wonderfully busy day. Be sure to check out the store when you are in Williamsburg.

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+1 #6 Chrissy 2012-02-21 10:06

So excited about Longaberger joining the Williamsburg Premium Outlets family!

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+2 #5 Guri Glass 2012-02-20 17:55

I have been collecting Longaburger baskets and pottery for years. This is perfect timing, I am retiring to Williamsburg at the end of this year. Trust me on my many trips between now and the end of the year I will be a frequent customer.

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+2 #4 Donna 2012-02-13 09:13

I have been buying/collecti ng Longaberger baskets since 1983. I cannot waitfor the store to open.

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+1 #3 Jessie 2012-02-12 10:10

Made in America. AND the materials are from the US also.

In fact this is one of the industries that is hit hard by fakes made in China.

Classic example: It would be a much larger company if all the "Longaburger baskets" were authentic and would be competitive to the knockoffs if the Chinese didn't force their currency to an artificial low by buying US notes.

Better yet, the next step, we'll just send those 300 jobs in Newark OH to China.

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+3 #2 Sam Royall 2012-02-12 08:56

This will be a welcome addition to the town.

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+2 #1 Bill Tyler 2012-02-11 21:59

Longaburger is the name for quality baskets. We have about a half dozen of these items and they are the best that I've seen. I would suggest everyone take a look at these and you will see what I mean.

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