Shop vac is over

[huskyvacs]

Shop Vac did not warn the employees because everything was all set up so that once the buyout happened, things would continue as normal. They gave the employees notice of the buyout and the plans to sell, and what the plan was going forward. Remember, Shop Vac only has 1,700 employees WORLDWIDE, thats less than an elementary school class roster. It was like a family. The buyer just abruptly canceled the deal at the very last possible second, leaving them stuck without any recourse.

From a local newspaper serving Northcentral PA;

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Williamsport, Pa.
Sept. 15, 2020

The Shop-Vac Corporation will be closing. The company, which has over 1,700 employees worldwide, informed staff members this morning.

According to multiple sources, most of the employees lost their job today and a few administrative-level employees will remain through the end of the week. Not only were the employees informed they had lost their jobs, according to multiple employees who chose to remain anonymous, but they were also informed their insurance and benefits were terminated.

“We regret that we were unable to provide you with more notice. The current global pandemic and economic crisis has left the Company in dire financial conditions. The Company accordingly had been negotiating the sale of the business as a going concern, which, if such sale has been completed, would have enabled us to stay in business and continue the employment of employees. We fully anticipated the sale to be completed and for the buyer to hire all employees,” stated a letter SHOP-VAC provided to its employees in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

“Unfortunately, the buyer without warning walked away from the deal. This unforeseeable business circumstance has left us with no choice but to close our facilities.”

The SHOP-VAC facility at 2323 Reach Road in Williamsport has over 400 employees, all of whom will be losing their jobs as a result of the closure.

SHOP-VAC Corp. is well-known for pioneering the concept of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

https://www.northcentralpa.com/busi...cle_22df06ee-f77a-11ea-b643-0bc122c9e71c.html

 

[panasonicvac]

That's a shame personally

The brand Shop Vac was what first got me introduced into wet/dry vacs and I even grew up with using SEVERAL Shop Vacs as a kid. Always thought that they were decent vacs for what they were back then. But I knew that Shop Vac had been struggling to keep up in recent years anyways on the market due to competition and quality control. In fact, the newer Shop Vac 16RTP550A Pump Vac we have out in our family ranch that barely gets used (Maybe less or more than 10 hours of use) already has a bad motor. Even if I were to buy a budget wet dry vac today, I don't think Shop Vac would've been my first brand of choice to get nor would I'd save the best for last as I know there are better options for me out there like Ridgid or Craftsman.

 

[panasonicvac]

Looks like Hilco Global is assisting with Shop Vac.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

what ya mean about that ??

 

[blknblu]

Google ..

HILCO GLOBAL ENGAGED BY SHOP-VAC TO ASSIST IN CLOSING GLOBAL OPERATIONS

https://www.hilcoglobal.com/news/me...op-vac-to-assist-in-closing-global-operations

 

[tolivac]

Like with Royal--hope Shop Vac can arise from the ashes like the Pheniex!

 

[huskyvacs]

Yeah thats what I said earlier above. The fat lady has not sung yet. Someone will save them, the IP is too valuable. It may be small, but it is valuable.

 

[tolivac]

Hope the "fat lady" can save Royal,too!Both ShopVac and Royal will be missed.

 

[panasonicvac]

I don't think the Royal brand would be coming back anytime soon. Maybe TTI could bring back the classic metal Royal uprights if they still have the machinery and tooling for them but have them sold either under the Hoover Commercial or Oreck Commercial line. It would seem strange to call a metal Royal a Hoover or an Oreck but I would like it much better if they were called Dirt Devil if TTI would be open to have Dirt Devil going back to selling commercial vacuums.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Their headquarters looks like a pretty cool building. I wish someone could save the company and keep it in the USA - not some Chinese recycled name that has nothing to do with the original product.

I still have my 5 gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vac I got for Christmas in 1997. I love it for cleaning the car, it has great suction and really gets the carpets and mats clean. Every time I use it I wash out the tank and hose with the garden hose, so it is still in excellent condition, looks and sounds brand new.

It's come in handy for overflows and water spills over the years too.

 

[detroitdirtbag]

What does a mask have to do with a vac company. Shop vac didn’t stay up with the times. The one I bought from them was a pc of garbage. That’s why I didn’t buy anymore. The wheels fell of, the whole vac was poor quality. You go to the store and everyone is into vacs of this kind. It’s their fault.

 

[tolivac]

There is a little relation with vacuums and masks-Masks have been made from bag material before they are made into bags.Another good reason NOT to cut up vacuum bags for masks-the bag material may have been treated with a bacteriacide-that is TOXIC-not sure you would want that over your face,nose,and mouth!To get down to it masks have nothing to do with the "death" of ShopVac.Surprized they didn't survive since ShopVac made vacuums and cleaning products.Those could help with COVID cleanings.

 

[detroitdirtbag]

The vac I had was from the 80’s. First the hose end broke off, then the wheels were on a thin cheap band, those broke, I had to epoxy the hose end to canister and make a new base for the canister using casters.
The filters were a PITA to attach. The hose was a #mall dia. I was going to use it as a dust collector fir my table saw but never did. It went in the dumpster when I moved.
Shop vac seems to be a Lowe’s brand. Rigid is Home Depot. Home Depot you ring up all your items now, I don’t shop there anymore. Let’s see what Lowe’s carry’s now. Prop crapsman.

 

[detroitdirtbag]

 

[kloveland]

So is Sears, Kmart, Steinmart and many others! This world sucks!

 

[detroitdirtbag]

Pier one imports too, but they were so overpriced. Stein art, I dont even own a beer Stein, Sears did it to them selves. Everyone blames it on Covid.
I bought a BBQ off Sears last summer, it was a huge PITA. First one was damaged, had to drive all the way back out, I wanted a red one, Lowe’s had them in black only. I ended up keeping some parts because I wasted 2 days getting a bbq. Sears sucks.

 

[thevacuumman]

I know when it came time to replace my old 5 Gallon Shop Vac, I looked that Shop-Vac's line up in Late 2018/Early 2019 at both Walmart and Morton's Ace Hardware. I was unimpressed with how the cheaply the fit and finish seemed to be on the display models, but I also looked at a few of the Craftsman Wet/Dry Vacs at our Sears Hometown Store and since most of these models were on sale, I came home with a 12 Gallon Craftsman XSP that I gave $60-ish for and have been pleased with my purchase since then. The Craftsman sees regular use in my garage and its been my go to vacuum for cleaning out other vacuum since normally it has a dust bag and a pleated filter fitted on the vacuum. I considered one of the larger plastic tub Shop-Vacs that Ace Had but for the price I paid I got a larger vacuum.

 

[man114]

None of this stuff was Covid.

Sears killed itself. It was dying in the mid 1990s. Eddie bled money off to keep Kmart afloat, never innovated Kmart, poured billions into Shop Your Way merchandise giveaways. One giant mess of just poor planning and ineptitude, lack of marketing and so on.

Pier One walked a tight financial rope for years, almost went bankrupt during the recession and ran a decor business which is somewhat cyclical based on changing tastes. They obviously didn’t learn in 2008/09 and this time it hit them.

Same could be said of Tuesday Morning. I remember going to one in Vegas during the recession and the morning I went there was very good likelihood they were going to file chapter 11 that week. They managed to avoid it, but again walking the tight rope should have given them the lesson. They were close after Christmas but Covid just pushed it over the edge. They’d very likely have run out of cash by the fall with or without it.

Lord & Taylor was another. They pared back what they carried back around the recession and because a largely useless clothing store. Prior to that they still had some cookware, appliances, Electronics etc. Now while margins are thin that stuff gets people through the door. JCP, Sears, Lord & Taylor etc were not hurting for sq footage. When I last set foot in one 5 years ago or so they literally had nothing to offer.

Sears held out longer than most because of hardlines.

Now as far as Shop Vac. Covid wouldn’t do anything to them. There are long lead times and plan times on that stuff. Shop Vac style vacs on shelves now were probably ordered back in April. So any real financial impact from Covid would have been months down the road. It’s a vac that’s used in a shop. Basement, garage etc. None of those areas would be the highest impact of Covid. What has happened is chinese vacs under other brands have encroached, they’re the same general price but better ergonomics and better thought out designs. There are plenty of labels like Stanley and Craftsman to toss on. So nothing special. Same general price price.

 

[tolivac]

Also "Craftsman" brand shop vacuums were built in the Williamsport PA site.YET---Shop Vacs and Craftsman are still readily available.NO information on the Hilco website that is handling Shop Vac now.No buyers---anyone here want to buy a Shop vacuum company?And acceseries for Shop Vac available ---tools,filters,and bags.

 

[tolivac]

And---both owners of Shop Vac strangly moved to California after the Williamsport PA site closed.STRANGE-the employees were left to fend for themselves-and no 60 day warning they were going to be laid off as required by law.No retraining for other jobs,either.Workers just dumped while the owners fled and landed with their "Golden Parachutes".