onewilyfool Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 America's love affair with the irreverent, tacky and politically incorrect is making millions for at least one business. Carson Home Accents, a 41-year-old, family-owned company based in Freeport, Pa., struck gold recently when it started manufacturing and selling RedNek Wine Glasses. The company, a wholesaler of gift and home decor items, started making the wine glass -- simply a Ball Mason jar glued on top of a Libbey candlestick holder -- 10 months ago, and in less than a year, the product has had $5 million in sales. "The RedNek Wine Glass has quickly become a phenomenon," said John Hill, vice president of Carson Home Accents. In the beginning... It was only by chance that the idea of the product came to the attention of the company in January. "One of our salespeople saw this item on a shelf at a Hallmark store," said Hill, adding that Carson Home Accents subsequently met the original inventor of the product and signed a licensing deal with her that allowed the company to manufacture and sell RedNek Wine Glasses. Okie Morris, 43, who invented the Original RedNek Wine Glass, calls herself a "repurposer." "I use old things and give them a new twist," she said. Morris, who lives in Newport News, Va., was in a thrift store last year when she spotted an old Mason jar in one room and a Libbey candlestick holder in another. "It just hit me to put these two items together and call it a redneck wine glass," she said. Carson started manufacturing the glasses in March. Costing about $6.50 to make, and selling for about $15, Carson Home Accents produced 2,000 of its RedNek Wine Glasses in April. By June, orders had picked up to 70,000 glasses, said Hill. "We didn't know how big this thing would turn out," said Hill. "When we realized in the summer that we were shipping 100,000 glasses a month, we hired 20 more people to handle the production. That's a 40% jump in our employment." Jarden Corp., which makes the Mason jars, and Libbey Inc., which makes the candlestick holders, did not return phone calls requesting comment about the wine glass. The RedNek Wine Glass is currently No.1 on the bestsellers list for glassware and drinkware items on Amazon. "It has been in the top 100 in this category for the past 26 days," said Grace Chung, a holiday trend expert at Amazon.com. Amazon customer reviews give it a 4.5 out of a 5-star rating. Chung said the RedNek Wine Glass and other quirky novelty items seem especially popular with gift seekers this year, adding that the wine glass and the "Toilet Mug" -- another hot seller on Amazon -- are "fun, unique ideas that won't cost a fortune." But as with most fads, they can burn out as quickly as they ignite. Hill expects orders to slow down after the holidays but is hoping for a pickup again in the New Year. Until then, the company is laying low and enjoying the RedNek Wine Glasses' unexpected money-making run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Has someone couped your identity. . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon S. Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 I've actually had that saved in my Amazon cart the last couple of weeks.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Great story OWF!. I first saw these for sale in gift stores and farm markets this past spring. Even I had to laugh! ... I, of course, being a "rescourcefull redneck", would not shell out $15 for one. I knew that I could make one myself for little of nothing (if I really wanted one) and also I have an abundance of traditional wine glasses at home. I had no idea that they were THAT succesfull in the market, WOW! Long Live Capitalism! And why didn,t I think of that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daryl M Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 File that under, "Why didn't I think of that?". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 I think it's important to recognize the the inventor of the "Redneck Wine Glass" is someone named "Okie Morris"!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Yeah, but it's hard for us redneks to pour our wine from the box into such a small glass. Generally we just use an large old (Bama)jelly jar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Yeah, but it's hard for us redneks to pour our wine from the box into such a small glass. Generally we just use an large old (Bama)jelly jar. I thought you just put your mouth under the spigot and turned it on. That's why you put the box on the edge of the kitchen counter, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 I thought you just put your mouth under the spigot and turned it on. That's why you put the box on the edge of the kitchen counter, isn't it? Nick...that's only for red wine....for white wine the box has to be on the top shelf of the icebox, high enough so you can put your lip under the spigot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Nick...that's only for red wine....for white wine the box has to be on the top shelf of the icebox, high enough so you can put your lip under the spigot. I didn't know wine came in colors. I thought it was all clear, like the likker in the mason jar...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 I didn't know wine came in colors. I thought it was all clear, like the likker in the mason jar...... Reminds me of the bars in Oklahoma..... they have signes that say, "Liquor In The Front ... Poker In The Rear" I'm not sure they're talking about booze and cards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatwhite_10 Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Good one OWF! Fill it with some Boone's Farm or MD 20/20 ... and here we go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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