Anyone Ever Use Goodwill For Manufacturing?

[charlotte49er]

Back when I was with IBM, I had worked with a a challenged workshop in Concord to do some work for us.

If you taught them to "put the lime in the coconut". They would work all day at putting the "Lime in the coconut and shake it up". Day in and day out, 5 days a week and be happily do it with a big smile on their faces.

I have a "cottage" industry I want set up and can't find anyone who wants to work part time to crank my stuff out. I know there used to be a Goodwill maufacturing place in the old Lowes on North Tryon right past Sugar Creek. I don't know if they are allowed to use chemicals (It involves "glueing" PVC pipe together.)

I'd just thought I'd ask if anyone had used the Goodwill workers. I know Goodwill workers aren't all "challenged", some are impaired.

[Hairless Cat]

Is this the sand scooper thing againn? Im looking for some extra cash and like sniffing pvc glue - whats would my net per piece be?

[logic1977]

You know when i read through this thread I wasn't sure if using Goodwill as cheap labor was the most despicable thing I have ever seen, or the most fugin brilliant idea ever.

One or the other I'm sure though

[Fire n Ice]

I used to work in the developmentally disabled field, and there's been a big push away from that type of piece work for the population. Before I stopped working in 2010, even Goodwill was looking to do away with it, can't remember if they had completely or were just talking about it. The goal now in the field is what's called supported employment, where they place people in "regular" jobs and they have a job coach to assist them.

[charlotte49er]

I actually have 2 projects. 1 is making a PVC frame out of 1 1/2" PVC pipe. Just glueing the 90 degree corners to sections of pipe that have to be cut to size. Easy, but it has to lie flat, my first attempt came out twisted as the glue set up very fast. (I have to determine the material costs.)

Second project is taking a template and using a Rotozip to but out holes in the bottom of a 5 gallon backet, then drill holes and pop rivet in screen (This one is more labor intensive, but less material costs.)

I'll post photos this weekend.