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Finding Low-Cost Labor
IMR, Oct. 30, 1995
Looking to find someone to assemble kits and binders for a nominal cost on an irregular basis? Kelty-Best Inc. in Madison, Wis., has found an effective solution by working with a local shelter for the physically disabled. The distributorship works with the shelter about once a month and says the solution has been wonderful for both parties. Workers assemble binders up to 150 pages, including index tabs, for less than 25 cents per binder. "They are very, very precise," says Tucker, who adds that he has never had a quality problem in the 10 years Kelty-Best has worked with the shelter, which originally approached his firm about the work. In some cases, Kelty-Best delivers work to the shelter; in others, items are drop shipped there from manufacturers. Tucker sends a sample to the shelter, which workers follow.
If you are interested in such an arrangement, try calling your local social services department or chamber of commerce for information on groups in your area. Tucker suggests double checking the work on the first job to ensure quality. He had the first two or three boxes of the first job shipped to him to check. After that, he says, there was no need to do so. Tucker feels good about keeping the disabled employed. He also appreciates having a source for manual labor, especially since the unemployment rate in Madison is less than 2 percent, making it difficult to find qualified workers for any job.