6 Businesses You Wouldn’t Expect to Find in Sheboygan, WI
From its growing arts scene and family-friendly attractions to its welcoming community, outdoor recreation options and beautiful Lake Michigan views, Sheboygan, WI, is quite the Midwest diamond. But there’s something else glimmering in this region that adds to its attractiveness – a collection of cool, unique and somewhat quirky businesses. Check out these six businesses that you wouldn’t expect to find in Sheboygan, WI.
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1. Hankscraft AJS
Hankscraft AJS has been helping brands stand out from the crowd in colorful, creative ways for more than 35 years. Located in Random Lake, the company is known for manufacturing custom tap handles – think the cool handles you see that mark the beers on tap at your favorite brewery. With a full-service wood shop as well as the ability to paint, engrave, add decals and even create handles through urethane molding, customers are sure to receive the products they desire. Plus, the company doesn’t stop at tap handles. This Sheboygan, WI, business takes pride in producing custom signage and flight trays. To top it off, the brand works to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing process by actively supporting green initiatives and ensuring ecological preservation for future generations.
2. Jolly Good Soda
Krier Foods, based in Random Lake, is a fifth-generation family-owned business in the beverage packaging industry. Since the late 1960s, it has been producing the fan-favorite Jolly Good Soda, which offers several fruity flavors. However, soda is not where the company got its start. Krier Foods began in 1913 as a vegetable canning company, later venturing into the beverage industry when a national soda company asked them to can their beverage, according to Nicole Depies, marketing manager at Krier Foods.
“At that time, our fourth-generation president created Jolly Good Soda, initially produced during the vegetable off-season to maintain employment for our workers,” Depies says. “Since then, Jolly Good has become a cherished part of countless family memories. We’ve grown from a local brand to a regional favorite, and now, we’re proud to be a national soda brand.”
3. Carbliss
In 2018, Adam and Amanda Kroener were on a mission to lose weight while still enjoying an evening cocktail together after a busy day. Their journey to finding the perfect low-carb beverage wasn’t easy, but with some imagination and trial and error, they made their own mix featuring sparkling water, vodka and delicious flavors. The couple chose to share their tasty low-carb cocktail with the world and launched Carbliss in 2019. Today, this Sheboygan, WI, business offer flavors like lemon lime, black cherry, passion fruit and many more.
“We’ve been blessed with a business landscape that allows us to flourish through support of others,” Adam says. “What I love about Sheboygan County is it is at the heart of people helping people.”
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4. Wigwam
Since 1905, Wigwam, located in Sheboygan, has warmed people’s feet and more, creating products like socks, hats and gloves, with wool sourced from yarn spinners who buy from American woolgrowers. Wigwam’s knitting journey began with knitting needles and, over time, expanded to knitting machines. This Sheboygan, WI, business’ history shows years of invention and creativity, as it has produced everything from a pair of red and green socks for Abercrombie & Fitch to knit swimming suits, athletic sweaters and even Tepee socks (a shoe/sock combo designed for indoor wear).
5. ConceptWorks
ConceptWorks began in 1984 as a cabinet shop that was then called Sheboygan County Woodworking, and over the years, it has grown to provide architectural millwork, retail fixtures, and showroom and trade show displays. Described more creatively, ConceptWorks CEO Adam Schneider says he considers the company a science fair for grownups.
“Our products can be seen across North America. You may have sat in an upholstered seating booth at a restaurant in New York City, shopped a bathing product that was on display in a retail store, or purchased a new vehicle while interacting with fixtures we’ve made,” Schneider says. “Sheboygan County has an impressive amount of manufacturing and a reliable supply base. Many of our suppliers and vendors are also located inside of this county.”
6. FifthColor
Headquartered in Sheboygan Falls on the stunning beaches of Lake Michigan, FifthColor is a top-tier experiential marketing agency that offers full-service solutions to elevate brands. It provides services like brand strategy, UI/UX design, website maintenance, videography, digital advertising and large-scale event solutions. What’s unique about FifthColor is the company houses its experts under one roof, offering a single-source solution for clients.