Page 7 - Dresden Buzz 07-12-24

JULY 12 - 25, 2024 LOCAL NEWS | PAGE 7
Dresden & Company continues to create a future for the art of

basketmaking in Dresden
by Matthew Dotson

lows you to become a basket designer.
The company is also wanting to at-
tract new talent. Some of the veterans
in the company have already begun
mentoring others but more talent will be
needed to continue to grow.
“The biggest thing we have to do
in the future is that we have to attract
young, creative talent, we have to be the
kind of company that they want to work
for we have to be prosperous so we can
afford to pay them what they need to
make,” explained Lepi.
Over the past five years, D&Co. has
partnered with several organizations to
help raise money for their causes. Some
of those include the Ronald McDonald
House, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Friends
of the Dresden Parks, and Children of
Fallen Patriots Foundation. The commu-
nity-minded, and giving nature of the
company is nothing less than inspiring.
Lepi stated, “Dresden is, and I think,
wants to remain the go-to community
for baskets in the United States. It’s
ours to win, it’s ours to lose.”
For more information about D&Co.
visit dresdenandcompany.com.
A Lemon-Aid basket is nearing completion as long-time weaver Pam Wheeler adds some finishing touches to complete the weave of the basket in the D&Co.
Workshop. Lynette Dotson (file photo: June 2023)
Basketmaking has been deeply that, we’re doing private label work for rolled out, one of the most notable be-
woven into the community of Dresden, high-end hotels, and along with that, ing “D&Co. By You”. This designed by
Ohio. Nearly everyone who lives in or they’re recognizing that Dresden is the you line of products is completely cus-
near Dresden knows someone who has Basketmaking Capital and they’re re- tomizable down to the color of stain,
worked in the basket business or maybe minded of that and that will only grow, pattern, and tag. There are currently six
they have themselves. With a desire to it’s just word of mouth, that’s recogni- basket styles and two lamps that can
preserve the art of basketmaking and tion that we’re the best in the country,” be custom-made to fit your preference. Made with 100%%
keep knowledgeable employees who shared Kennedy. Whether you are styling a basket after a
have honed their craft in the industry “I think it’s important to note that sports team, a special occasion, or just local news.
working in Dresden, Jim Lepi set on a for fifty years now, baskets have deliv- to fit your personality “D&Co. By You” al-
course to establish Dresden & Com- ered a lot of prosperity to Muskingum
pany (D&Co.). In 2019 a fresh, contem- County and all of the surrounding coun-
porary, and extremely innovative direct ties and to a lot of people. At one point
sales business was born. With an all-star baskets employed 8000 people at one
lineup of experts at the helm, D&Co. has time, and did 1 billion dollars in revenue,
brought basketmaking back to the place that was all money that washed through
where it all started. Muskingum County and adjoining coun-
“I started the business for two rea- ties. When we found out that they were
sons,” explained Lepi, “one was that I not going to continue we felt like some
can’t envision the purpose of Dresden of this, the skills, and the knowledge
without baskets, I just can’t imagine this would be irreplaceable in the future,”
community if we don’t have this bas- said Lepi.
ket notoriety. Many people depend on There are many aspects to the pro-
it, … and that’s a big part of it because cess of making baskets and each one
I love Dresden and Bobbi (Lepi) does of those took many years to perfect.
two. But probably even more important The company mixes its own stains en-
was when I got involved in November of suring that they are accurate with each
2017 and right off the bat I got involved batch. The innovative designs that you
with Michael (Kennedy), Andy (Wolfe) see with each new product line are from Cody, son of Marcy of Newark, Ohio
Tina (Smythe), Brenton (Baker), Sharon the creative minds of designers Andy
(Wood), and Ryan (Lepi), and I fell in and Michael. They have conceptualized Exclusive Limited Edition
love with them, I couldn’t let them down, some of the most unique baskets on the
I had to give them an avenue to at least market including baskets shaped like 2024 Ronald McDonald House Charity Basket
try it on their own, our expectations were food, leaves, gnomes, and most recently
enormous, you know nobody could pre- the company is introducing lamps with (2nd of the series)
dict COVID, the timing was just terrible woven lampshades. No detail is left un-
for us, but they were the all-star team, checked. Randy, “the handle guy” has I’m loving it!
they are the best in the business, no one 35 years of knowledge and Ann is an
knows more about the basket business. expert in prototyping. There are so many Take a look at our beautiful Woven Ronald McDonald House
… The truth is, if the equipment went details involved and with each someone Charity Basket. Dresden & Co. Proprietor, Carrie Beth Carver will
away and you had the people, you could with the talent and experience to do it donate $22 of the purchase of every woven RMHC Basket created
build the equipment, but without them, well.
you can’t do anything. You don’t go to “There was a time when I thought, by our talented basketmakers in Dresden, Ohio to RMHC.
basket school or have a basket machine well we’ve done everything that can be
shop or anything like that, these people done in baskets, well that was a silly This basket is only available with Carrie Beth for a limited time.
deserved another chance they were idea because there is all kinds of room
working their tales off.” for innovation,” Lepi said. Until October 30, 2024
D&Co. is continuing to bring tourism With the D&Co. celebrating half a
to Dresden as the Basketmaking Capi- decade of basketmaking they are look-
tal. Plus events like the annual Amer- ing to the future, setting goals and plans Cost: $115 SCAN QR CODE TO ORDER!
ica’s Basket Festival organized by the for the next five years and beyond. Of Includes basket, plastic protector,
Dresden Community Association and course, adding new products including
other opportunities that strengthen the expanding on other home decor offer- dated tag and shipping.
branding and recognition for the village ings is one of many goals on the horizon 740-571-2327
are hugely impactful to the success of for the company. With the new Home
D&Co. and the community as a whole. Life Catalog introduced in July, there is carvercarrie@ymail.com
“And we are starting to kind of see a plethora of additions that D&Co. has