Citing 'Impressive' Sales, Zippo Increases Full Time Staff at Congress Street Plant

Zippo announced this week that the company has offered full-time positions, through the end of the year, to a group of employees previously laid off. The offer was extended to 49 employees who have been working on a part-time basis.

“Our year to date sales figures has been impressive and we feel we need additional help in our factory to handle the strong sales forecast for the remainder of the year”, said Greg Booth, Zippo President and CEO, in a news release sent to WESB and The HERO. “We are very pleased that we are able to offer full-time employment to this group of dedicated manufacturing employees”.

“There are several factors which have contributed to this change. Our windproof lighter business has been robust in the US and in select markets overseas. Zippo has enjoyed significant growth in China and India as well as in Latin America. We are expecting more of the same through the holiday season,” Booth stated.

Additionally, Zippo launched a new Outdoor Line of products this year which is a collection of flame and heat-related products for the outdoor enthusiast. The line extension includes a Flexible Neck multi-purpose lighter, an Emergency Fire Starter, Hand Warmer and a cedar chip Campfire Starter. The products have been well received by retailers and wholesalers and the Hand Warmer is selling well in the US and in Europe. There has also been good response to the Emergency Fire Starter Kit. The line has been supported by extensive PR since January and this month Zippo launched a national advertising campaign to promote the products at the consumer level.

Another new business segment for Zippo is the Ronson line of lighters and lighter fuels which were acquired in February. According to Booth, “The Ronson business has been very good and has been growing according to plan.”

This summer Zippo relocated equipment from the Ronson fuel plant in New Jersey and Zippo now packages all Ronson branded lighter fluid in Bradford along with the Zippo branded fluid. New state of the art butane equipment has also been installed to package both Zippo and Ronson butane fuel. The new fuel operations have resulted in six additional positions in Bradford.

In addition to lighters and lighter accessories, the company recently completed several initiatives to expand the Zippo trademark to reflect a lifestyle brand. A new collection of writing instruments and watches will be available this fall and the company has also licensed a Zippo fragrance assortment for a fall introduction in Europe and Asia. A new line of Zippo-branded casual clothing will debut early next year via a licensing agreement with a California apparel marketer.

Pictured, Zippo Electrical-Mechanical Technician Tom Weaver Ronson inspects newly-acquired Ronson fuel packaging equipment. The company purchased the New Jersey-based Ronson brand in February and moved the fuel production operations to Bradford this summer.
Photo courtesy of Zippo