Sunday, February 16, 1997

BC Plastics makes the move to Coleman to increase production

By KEN ELLSWORTH / Senior Staff Writer

COLEMAN - BC Plastics is moving up in the world and has moved to Coleman to boot. The company is not yet big enough to replace the announced loss of Stemple Manufacturing Co., but Coleman is happy to have it.

Owners Terry, 31, and Amy Holmquest, 33, had ran their small plastics manufacturing business out of Novice for the past four years but increased orders necessitated a move to a larger building.

"The Coleman Development Company helped with locating the building and with a loan," Terry Holmquest said early last week.

The leased 3,000 square-foot structure on East Pecan Street has not had an occupant in 15 years and has required quite a bit of preparation, but production is now underway. Holmquest said he hopes to employ at least 6 employees in addition to himself and his wife in the not too distant future. The current number of full-time employees is four.

The company produces plastic fixtures that are cut, bent, glued and polished at the Coleman site from four by eight foot sheets of acrylic and other sorts of plastics.

The finished products are supplied to department stores and other retail businesses to hold and display merchandise. The plastic products have a high-tech, glossy, clear, glass-like, flawless appearance.

"That's why I've been growing. I've been doing a good job," Holmquest said. "Last year we did $65,000-70,000 (gross). We are estimating $180,000 in 1997. We're pretty sure of it.

"Our plastics hold the things like socks and underwear at J.C. Penny's in Abilene," Holmquest said.

He said his company also had accounts with other Abilene businesses, including producing display units for Mr. Gatti's and Radio Shack. The company also made plastic display cases for Museums of Abilene that are now in The Grace museum.

In addition to making retail fixtures, the BC Plastics makes customized items. Those items include boat windshields, mirrored fan blades, holders for business cards and other office desk items. Some of the office products are on display at the Coleman County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

"If somebody comes in here and wants custom work, I'll do it," Holmquest said.

Holmquest is originally from Wisconsin. He went to work for a plastics manufacturer, Dean Taggart Products in Fort Worth, in 1985.

"A buddy of mine in the same business (Taggert) said he would contract some of his business out to me if I wanted to into business on my own," Holmquest said.

Four years ago the Holmquests set up shop in Novice, hiring two high school students that worked part time.

"We'd always talked about running our own business. We weren't sure that we would. But I always thought it would be plastics," Holmquest said.

Amy does most of the office work but has been known to pitch in the manufacturing.

"I've helped him glue and bend," she said.

The Holmquests set up shop in Novice because Amy was from the area, having grown up at Lake Brownwood. She attended school in Bangs, and her family still lives close by. The couple has three young children.