D&J Plastics

D&J Plastics manufacturers plastic fishing lures used by recreational and professional anglers worldwide.  They employ 72.

• Started in 1997 to meet growing needs of the soft plastic worm industry, and have gone from 3 to 72 full time employees today (only 17 do not live in QC)
• Their one-of-a-kind mold makes them unique as each mold is personally designed by CEO Dennis Montgomery and made to order for his clients
• They can manufacture 750K lures in 24 hours & hold a patent for the application of glitter to the outside of the plastic
• They've applied for a patent for using sugar in soft plastics for products developed for Dick's Sporting Goods
• On ESPN & other shows & in many magazine articles, D&J Plastics has an online media marketing campaign & monthly newsletters & announces new product every year
• Dennis started the first Rotary club for Quitman and under his leadership raised money for an orphanage in Guatemala
• This international company has customers in at least 15 countries
• Average annual sales in YEAR ONE were $460K and are now at $6.3M – up 20% from 2013 and doubling in 2014

COMPANY TO DO:  Company has worked with GDEcD since 2002 with exporting assistance and an EDGE grant in 2011 to expand their warehouse capacity.  River Valley Regional Commission provided a series of loans to finance expansion.  Both entities have been critical to the success of the company.