SHEBOYGAN, WI — For over a century a family owned company in Sheboygan, Wisconsin has been trying to keep peoples feet warm and comfy by producing a high-quality sock. Tonight in Small Towns NBC26’s Eric Crest brings us to Wigwam Mills, that’s where the worldwide producer of Wisconsin made socks are still being pieced together today.
Wigwam Mills started their family business in Sheboygan 114 years ago. The family-owned company is managed today by the families fourth generation of sock creators.
“There’s definitely a sense of pride. There’s also a lot of proverbial socks to fill that are quite large,” says Margaret Newhard the Director of Product management and a fourth generation family member of the founder of Wigwam Mills.
Every day here the company will churn out about 18-thousand pairs, of more than 200 different varieties of socks. All of the sets being developed with different looks, textures, and even functions.
On the plant floor, about 200 employees help with the production of these international socks being created. And while the process of knitting these socks has absolutely revolutionized over the years, the mark of quality has always been held to a certain standard.
“A lot of hard-working folks here, who have the same ethos we do in terms of quality and work ethic and that’s what kept us here,” says Chris Chesebro the Director of Operations and also a fourth generation manager at Wigwam Mills.
And while the company seems to have found their footing in the industry by focusing for the most part on what they do best, management still isn't letting us in on what variation of socks will carry them into their next, 114 years.
“I could tell you, but then I would probably have to stuff you into a sock somewhere,” says Newhard jokingly.
