Tipton Puzzle Maker Sees Big Spike in Demand
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAs families are spending more time at home during the pandemic, the demand for puzzles and games has skyrocketed, which is benefiting one Tipton-based company. Package Right Vice President Pat Kolodziejczak says the company, which is one of the largest puzzle manufacturers in the country, initially shut down production after Governor Eric Holcomb’s stay at home order was initiated. However, as demand for puzzles and games grew, supply began to run out.
“I proposed a letter to the governor’s office and I asked for permission to open up under certain restrictions and certain circumstances,” said Kolodziejczak. “I was granted permission.”
Since the company reopened for business, demand for puzzles increased 50% in two weeks. Kolodziejczak says to meet the demand, he plans to bring on at least 60 more employees.
“During this time of the year, we would have 130 to 140 people working. We employ locals; 90% of the people that work in this facility drive less than 25 miles to get to work. We’re averaging right in the neighborhood of 60 to 70 across two shifts. So I have a need for another 60 people. If every one of my employees decided tomorrow that they were going to come back, with the demand of the puzzle right now, I could use another 50 people.”
Kolodziejczak says providing families with a fun distraction during uncertain times gives him and his team the most satisfaction.
“We love what we do because of who we’re impacting and when people are working our puzzles and we know that we’re the ones and we go to the websites and we see the great feedback that we get from the puzzlers out there, it just drives you. It drives you to want to do more.”