MANUFACTURING trends &
SPOTLIGHTS
by Susan Slater
Volusia County is widely known for its beautiful beaches , abundant recreation , world-class sports , and great restaurants , but it has an economic alter-ego : innovative manufacturing . Over 400 manufacturers reside in the county of half a million people , providing thousands of jobs and supporting a strong proportion of the local economy . Unique business models and products abound , from sunscreen to sunglasses , parachutes to mechanical pumps , weapons manufacturing to boats , green-energy to bio-containment and high-tech virtual reality to specialty foods , The variety is seemingly endless .
According to 2016 United States Census Bureau Business Statistics , 75 percent of the approximately 255,000 manufacturing firms in the United States are small businesses that employ fewer than 500 workers . Most Volusia County businesses fit this profile . Smaller manufacturers often face greater challenges than their big-business counterparts in weathering change . They tend to be hardest hit by the costs that often accompany changes in government regulations or tariffs on products or materials . Other common manufacturing concerns revolve around technology , especially weighing the costs and benefits to a smaller business of keeping up with today ’ s technology , knowing that it may become obsolete within a short period . Attracting and maintaining a skilled workforce can also be difficult . At the same time , smaller businesses may be better poised to take advantage of new opportunities because their size makes them more nimble than a global conglomerate . Small business leaders know that vision is everything — knowing where the company should be in the future and having a current strategy to get it there .
Many Volusia County manufacturers are optimistic , having weathered the 2008 business downturn and recently undergone expansion or with plans to do so in the near term . We are spotlighting three such manufacturers . All three are experiencing solid growth . They each chose to do business in Volusia County because the business-friendly environment , available area for expansion , and access to shipping hubs fit seamlessly with their unique business models . All have high expectations for the future .
What these companies prove is that while they may be small manufacturers , they are also innovative and customer focused , leading their firms to significant growth . The future of Volusia
manufacturing is bright .
Kermit ’ s Key West
Key Lime Shoppe
Kermit ’ s Key West Key Lime Shoppe is an upscale gourmet specialty foods business with a production and retail outlet located in Deland . Karen Haught , Sales and Marketing Director , pointed out the wide variety of products they make , from limeflavored jellybeans , peanuts , steak sauce , and fudge , to jellies , candy , cookies , and salsa . But pies are what Kermit ’ s is known for — touted by The Food Network and Paula Deen as the best .
From humble beginnings in Key West , Kermit Carpenter used his grandmother ’ s
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