Four years ago Zebco decided to close its manufacturing operation in Tulsa. It eliminated hundreds of jobs and for many just disappeared off the Tulsa business radar. <br><br>News on 6 reporter Rick Wells
Four years ago Zebco decided to close its manufacturing operation in Tulsa. It eliminated hundreds of jobs and for many just disappeared off the Tulsa business radar. News on 6 reporter Rick Wells reports Zebco is a successful survivor in the competitive fishing equipment business.
John Kushnerick, marketing director for Zebco, is setting up the Zebco booth at the Green Country Hunting and Fishing Show in Claremore.
He's eager to talk about Zebco and the positive things that are happening there. "We are the talk of the industry now with what we are doing and the success we are having." They were the talk of the industry four years ago too. They decided then to close the manufacturing end of their business in Tulsa, and move those jobs to China and Japan.
There were protests by employees with some going to Chicago and Washington DC hoping to keep those jobs in the US. "If Zebco would have continued to operate in the manner it was, it eventually would have been out of business."
As it is four years later Zebco is now owned by the WC Bradley Company, and although its manufacturing opeation is overseas its headquarters is still here. "You still have design, engineering, your quality assurance, marketing, sales, finance everything is still based in Tulsa."
There is also a large distribution center in Claremore, products arrive from overseas and are shipped to retail outlets all over the world. In fact it's the employees at the distribution center who suggested a display at the Claremore show. "We wanna be able to display all the different types of things we make.â€
Wave the flag a little bit and let everyone knows Zebco is still around, and a successful player in the fishing equipment business.
The Green Country Hunting and Fishing Show runs through Sunday at the Claremore Expo Center
