Unusual effect of bad economy

[disneysteve]

We love to take factory tours and see how stuff is made. With that in mind, we are currently on a 3-day trip to the York, PA area, known as the "Factory Tour Capital" of the country. Today, we visited Wolfgang's Chocolates to take their tour. At the beginning of the tour, the guide explained that normally, the factory we were about to see would be buzzing with activity as the holiday season is approaching. This year, however, sales are off dramatically and there wasn't much of anything happening. She walked us through the various production areas and explained what happens in each area, but virtually all of the machines were idle and we only saw a handful of employees working throughout the tour.

This is one impact of the current economy that had never occurred to me.

[maat55]

In the last two weeks, I've spent as much time reading as working.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

The employment section of their website says they are looking for workers for three shifts. Unless they laid off the person who maintains the website, they must expect to gear up later.

Isn't spending in the US only thought to be down about 1% so far? I'd think that those who are delaying car purchases, might still buy a box of candy in December.

(I still never have taken the Bush brewery tour after almost thirty years of living in town with it.)

[KatieNK]

That sounds neat, Skins!

Hey Steve, have you ever gone to the Utz potato chip factory tour? It is pretty cool and after Thanksgiving, they do a giant, gorgeous Christmas display outside that is free to drive through. It is really awesome!

[yams]

Anyone visit the Northamptom (UK) shoe factories? They are fantastic, what with some of the world's most prestigious and high quality shoes made there and all. =)

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by KatieNK

Hey Steve, have you ever gone to the Utz potato chip factory tour?

We did that one today, along with the Snyder pretzel factory.

[KatieNK]

Cool! Have you ever been to their Christmas display?

[aukxsona]

Snyders is the very best snack.... your near my hometown

[rennigade]

disneysteve...tell me you bought a box of wolfgang's chocolate covered animal crackers? i get a box each year for xmas, they're so good.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by rennigade

disneysteve...tell me you bought a box of wolfgang's chocolate covered animal crackers? i get a box each year for xmas, they're so good.

No, actually didn't buy anything there. Just ate the free samples.

We're not big junk food and candy eaters. We just like taking factory tours.

[kilapapipa]

About the economy, my 4th grade son said some of his friends would be moving soon since they worked at the coal mines here in Wyoming and Obama will be closing them. Can you believe what 4th graders talk about?

Well, my 2nd grader hoped they would not close down the Hershey's factory because he really likes kisses, LOL

So they economy is even effecting the lives of 7 and 9 year olds.

[Car Insurance Guy]

Short intermission from food factory tours...

I know it's not as appetizing as pretzels or chocolate, but the Boeing factory tour was amazing. One of the plants is in Everett, WA. I've never seen buildings that large. They were working on the new 787 when I was there 2 summers ago. They're still working on it. The ceiling cranes were pretty impressive.

Now back to Hershey kisses...

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Car Insurance Guy

Short intermission from food factory tours...

I know it's not as appetizing as pretzels or chocolate, but the Boeing factory tour was amazing. One of the plants is in Everett, WA. I've never seen buildings that large. They were working on the new 787 when I was there 2 summers ago. They're still working on it. The ceiling cranes were pretty impressive.

Now back to Hershey kisses...

We didn't just do food factories. We also toured the Harley Davidson plant. That was pretty neat because you actually walk through the factory, right on the floor side by side with the workers, ducking out of the way of forklifts.

[GrimJack]

DS - check out any glass-working factory; Glass-blowing, plate-glass making that sort of thing. Your kids will love it, I do and I am 60. Plate glass is made by 'floating' liquid glass on liquid tin.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GrimJack

DS - check out any glass-working factory; Glass-blowing, plate-glass making that sort of thing. Your kids will love it, I do and I am 60. Plate glass is made by 'floating' liquid glass on liquid tin.

We've been to Wheaton Village, which is not far from home, and watched them blowing glass. We've never seen plate-glass being made.

[minnie1928]

Steve - I lived in York, PA all my life until June of this year and never went on any of the tours! It's funny what you just take for granted....

Although, since moving to NJ I've found it impossible to find a good potato chip. Utz and Martins are sold in York, so I stock up whenever I go home.

[disneysteve]

minnie1928, I don't know where in NJ you are, but Utz is sold around here. I'm in south Jersey, near Philly. I don't know how far into north Jersey they go.

[minnie1928]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

minnie1928, I don't know where in NJ you are, but Utz is sold around here. I'm in south Jersey, near Philly. I don't know how far into north Jersey they go.

I'm in North Jersey, they sell Utz here...but it's not the good ones. The only ones I've found are the multicolored chips that cost an arm & a leg/bag. I like grandma utz's....real thick chips. I can get a box of 3 bags of comparable type chips (Martins brand) in York for about $5.50. I'm heading home this weekend...guess what I'll be picking up !

[sakigt]

The Yuengling tour in Pottsville is the most welcoming warm tour Ive ever been on. They provide a good history, show you the naturally occuring cooling caves and let you walk up close to the bottling machines.

Made the Budweiser tour look like a joke.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by sakigt

The Yuengling tour in Pottsville is the most welcoming warm tour Ive ever been on. They provide a good history, show you the naturally occuring cooling caves and let you walk up close to the bottling machines.

Made the Budweiser tour look like a joke.

I'll have to put that on our list. We've done Budweiser in New Hampshire and enjoyed that, especially seeing the Clydesdales up close. They are massive.