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Creations Foam relaunches its operations
01-15-2009
11 :27 ESTAnnie St-Pierre, Le Journal de Québec
The former manufacturer of Crocs shoes, Creations Foam in Québec, has gradually relaunched its operations with more than fifteen employees thanks to significant government support.
Creations Foam 2008 suddenly closed shop on April 15, 2008, leading to upheaval in the Québec region because of the 500 jobs that were lost as a result of this decision, which was made at Crocs headquarters in Denver, Colorado.
The Québec factory’s directors, Marie-Claude de Billy and Andrew Reddyhoff, always made it clear they wished to relaunch operations, but the recovery has been a long time coming.
And yet, since December, there has been a flurry of activity in the manufacturer’s large facilities, on Québec’s rue des Tanneurs, the Journal de Québec has learned.
“We now have 17 employees; we are in the process of relaunching our activities and are seeking new applications for our injection molding process,” Ms. de Billy states.
It is this process that made the famous Crocs sandals popular—the same sandals that have now completely disappeared from the scene at Creations Foam 2008 in Québec.
The company instead produces spa pillows and kayak seats for manufacturers in these two industries but, above all, is working to develop new applications for the molding technology acquired by the new owners.
“We are very hopeful about discovering properties that are suitable for outdoor furniture,” said the vice president of Creations Foam, who anticipates 18 months of research and development.
Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications for Teamsters Canada, which represents the workers, is satisfied with this relaunch and firmly believes the directors will complete their project successfully.
The majority of the current employees are former workers who were laid off last April. Mr. Lacroix indicates that nearly 90% of the employees who were let go in April, a majority of whom were immigrants, have found other jobs since operations ceased.
The Reddyhoff/De Billy pair is thus starting from scratch; the name Crocs is crossed off their list of clients and suppliers for good.
They have convinced former private partners to support them. The governments of Québec and Canada have provided solid assistance in Creations Foam 2008’s operational relaunch.
At the Ministère du Développement économique de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation, it is said that Creations Foam took advantage of the economic project support program to secure a loan but that certain provisions still need to be clarified.
At the office of the Minister of Employment, Sam Hamad, a spokesperson indicated that Creations Foam received $88,000 to allow laid-off workers to be re-employed.
Export Development Canada (EDC), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and Investissement-Québec have also supported this company’s relaunch. The amounts will be revealed at a later date.
The former manufacturer of Crocs shoes, Creations Foam in Québec, has gradually relaunched its operations with more than fifteen employees thanks to significant government support.
Creations Foam 2008 suddenly closed shop on April 15, 2008, leading to upheaval in the Québec region because of the 500 jobs that were lost as a result of this decision, which was made at Crocs headquarters in Denver, Colorado.
The Québec factory’s directors, Marie-Claude de Billy and Andrew Reddyhoff, always made it clear they wished to relaunch operations, but the recovery has been a long time coming.
And yet, since December, there has been a flurry of activity in the manufacturer’s large facilities, on Québec’s rue des Tanneurs, the Journal de Québec has learned.
“We now have 17 employees; we are in the process of relaunching our activities and are seeking new applications for our injection molding process,” Ms. de Billy states.
It is this process that made the famous Crocs sandals popular—the same sandals that have now completely disappeared from the scene at Creations Foam 2008 in Québec.
The company instead produces spa pillows and kayak seats for manufacturers in these two industries but, above all, is working to develop new applications for the molding technology acquired by the new owners.
“We are very hopeful about discovering properties that are suitable for outdoor furniture,” said the vice president of Creations Foam, who anticipates 18 months of research and development.
Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications for Teamsters Canada, which represents the workers, is satisfied with this relaunch and firmly believes the directors will complete their project successfully.
The majority of the current employees are former workers who were laid off last April. Mr. Lacroix indicates that nearly 90% of the employees who were let go in April, a majority of whom were immigrants, have found other jobs since operations ceased.
The Reddyhoff/De Billy pair is thus starting from scratch; the name Crocs is crossed off their list of clients and suppliers for good.
They have convinced former private partners to support them. The governments of Québec and Canada have provided solid assistance in Creations Foam 2008’s operational relaunch.
At the Ministère du Développement économique de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation, it is said that Creations Foam took advantage of the economic project support program to secure a loan but that certain provisions still need to be clarified.
At the office of the Minister of Employment, Sam Hamad, a spokesperson indicated that Creations Foam received $88,000 to allow laid-off workers to be re-employed.
Export Development Canada (EDC), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and Investissement-Québec have also supported this company’s relaunch. The amounts will be revealed at a later date.
