Galley Support Innovations Turns It Around
by November 22, 2011 10:00 am 117 views
As part of our new “Made In Arkansas” series, we’ll profile companies that have reinvented themselves to survive in the tough economy. In our first installment, we look at Galley Support Innovations, an aerospace manufacturing firm located in Sherwood:
In 2005, Gina Radke and her husband, Wade, took over a family member’s business that was founded in 1964. The company, which they renamed Galley Support Innovations, makes latches and locks for doors on airplanes for clients such as Boeing, American Airlines and Gulfstream.
Less than 5 years into the business, the sky literally collapsed for the Sherwood manufacturing concern, like it did for many American businesses with the country’s recession.
“In 2008, it was a rough year for everyone,” Galley Support Innovations CEO Gina Radke tells Talk Business. Her husband looked for work elsewhere and she laid off all but two employees at the firm that once employed more than a dozen workers.
“The last quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010, we did $30,000 in sales. That does not even keep our doors open for a month. So it was drastic for us,” she said.
Today, Galley Support has new business in hand. It has rehired many of its laid-off workers and is expanding with new hires.
How did the company turn its business around? Watch our video report to find out.
“Made in Arkansas” is sponsored by Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, a program of the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority. Learn more at mfgsolutions.org.