Small Business in Harbeson Expands and Benefits from COVID-19 Pandemic

HARBESON, Del. - Business is better than ever because of the pandemic for JennyGems. The company began producing products locally when it couldn't get them from China anymore due to COVID-19. The new business model has also created more job opportunities. 

JennyGems moved from upstate into a 7,000 square-foot building on Route 9 in Harbeson in 2016. What was once a mostly empty back room is now a whole workshop. Owner Jennifer McMillan says sales are up in the physical shop and online. 

"We're up 50% over last year," McMillann says. "Just December alone, we're up 65% over last December."

Pre-COVID five people worked at JennyGems. Now there are 24 employees, who not only have to make the wooden signs and home decor, they have to ship them too.

"Right before the pandemic, we had made an initial purchase to begin manufacturing our products right here in the United States," McMillan says. "Once the pandemic hit, we were not able to get any products, so we went full-force and purchased a lot of equipment."

McMillan says they purchased two UV printers, a CNC router to carve home decor and table saws. JennyGems employees say products have been made faster and with better quality since they started producing them in house.

"Quality control has certainly gotten easier because everything comes out great now, instead of when we were doing China," says General Manager Amber St. Clair. "We'd pull a box of 20 and get 18 damaged."

St. Clair and Assistant Manager Amy Whittman have been with the company since almost its beginning, but they didn't have to sand, shape or glue these products until recently.

"The best part about making all the signs and designing them is when somebody actually wants to buy them," Whittman says. "That is like the best feeling ever."

Thousands of orders a day is a sign that people do want to buy them.

"Our employees are working 50 to 70 hours a week," McMillan says. "We are short-staffed and they have all stepped up their game. They are working until late hours into the night. They're coming in very early."

JennyGems' building in Harbeson has been sold and the company will be looking for a new home over the next two years before its lease runs out. McMillan says they're hoping to stay in the Georgetown area.

JennyGems products can also be found on Amazon, Etsy and Walmart.