Johannsen’s Greenhouse, a Madison establishment since 1960 will be closing at the end of the summer!
Karen said the family had no immediate plans to close shop, but then an unsolicited offer came from Baxter last fall. After “30 days of sleepless nights,” the family made what all of them felt was a very difficult, bittersweet decision, she said.
“We just thought, in this economy … in five years, when we’re ready (to retire) there may not be a viable offer. And Mom’s health care is quite expensive. So we thought we had to take it,” Karen said.
Johannsen’s has seven year-round employees — who have been with the business ranging from 10 to 38 years — as well as seasonal workers. “They are very loyal, really good people. That was probably the hardest part of the whole decision,” Karen said.
The Johannsen crew can take solace at least in the fact that they are not alone. Since Walker and the
republicans took over the state, no one is working!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, private-sector wages in Wisconsin fell 2.2% in the 12 months ended September 2012, ranking the state 44th out of 50.The rate was double the drop in the national average.
Wages in the state’s government sector, pressured more by government austerity policies than global competition, registered 49th in the nation during the same period.
With the state also lagging much of the nation in job creation — ranking 44th in the most recent 12-month period — it is apparent that Wisconsin is struggling more than many other states in the transition to 21st-century growth industries from its legacy as a bastion of old-line manufacturing.
As if that is not bad enough, Wisconsin is ranked 49th out of 50 in the economic forecast for the next 6 months! OUCH!
How do the Wisconsin republicans, who are in COMPLETE control address this dire news? While Scott Walker is, who knows where, running for President on the Wisconsin Taxpayer’s dime, the republicans in the legislature are here busy trying to outlaw abortion!
The question is no longer, when will the republicans try and bring jobs to the state, they have made it abundantly clear that is not a priority.
The question we have to ask is what business will close next?
I wouldn’t exactly cry for the Johannsens, Jeff. They’ve just become millionaires.
and their employees will be on the unemployment line. They better start saving now because the republicans will have it in for them by then that they wont get a check for 6 weeks.
Or they’ll follow their customers to work at the many other garden stores that will now see increased business. Y’think?
Well reading the article and understanding the business landscape that would have to be home Depot or Menards….or maybe they can get a job washing cars for the auto dealer.
How fitting that a locally owned mom and pop store is being demolished to make more way for a Japanese automaker to expand!
Also its very hard for them to “just follow their customers to other stores” when we are 44th in the country in jobs created, and 49th in wages….the customers aren’t there. The Scott Walker agenda has diminished demand in our state. Thats why what is unique about Johannsen’s is they were able to get out before they were boarded up.
The Johannsens were willing sellers, Jeff. They got a good price. Nothing in the article supports your assertion that they “got out before they were boarded up.” Nissan has three manufacturing plants in the U.S. employing American workers. If a new-car dealership is expanding, how is that evidence that Wisconsin’s economy is suffering? Automobiles are a lot more high-ticket than tulip bulbs. But don’t let me interrupt your Scott Walker rant.
We just thought, in this economy … in five years, when we’re ready (to
retire) there may not be a viable offer. And Mom’s health care is quite
expensive. So we thought we had to take it,” Karen said.
yes they employ some American workers and send all of the profits back to Japan. Not the same as an American Company and you know it. tell the people of janesville what a great company Nissan is.
Its not “MY scott walker rant” its the reality in WI. We are 44th in jobs, 49th in wages AND to hit the trifecta We are rated 49th in economic growth potential in the next 6 months.
PS: These are all out of 50. Not really a stellar resume for your Gov.
Who knows what the future will bring, Simpson. But the generous offer came NOW, not in 5 years. WI income ranks 26th in the U.S. Unemployment is below the national average. Our taxes are going down, not up. Democrats fought mining, they’re fighting sand extraction but they complain about jobs. We are NOT going back to the $3.6B deficit Doyle years, Jeff. In 2010, the Cato Institute gave failing grades on fiscal integrity to seven governors, including Doyle. The same year the Pew Center for the States listed Wisconsin as one of the 10 worst-managed states.
The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank has a pretty good idea of what the future holds and it does not include jobs in WI….
http://www.philadelphiafed.org/research-and-data/regional-economy/indexes/leading/2013/LeadingIndexes0413.pdf
You would think that complaining about Jim Doyle(for some reason) or hating unions, or right wing semi- think tanks studies would increase demand but for some reason it hasnt.
job reports and average income earned and projections of economic activity in the state should be adequate evidence that Wisconsin’s economy is failing.
Republicans have passed laws against Wind farms. I guess they don’t like the cleaner ways to furnish energy to us. They turned down the high speed rail jobs and federal money to improve broadband in Wis. Walker is turning down money for health care. Everyone of these things has cost Wis. jobs. Walker is borrowing money so he can tell us that we have no deficit. Our kids will pay his bills. The Doyle deficit was bought on by the national recession.
Walker took millions of dollars out of the state economy with act 10 and gave it to “job creators” that are not creating jobs. How about this WEDC with no accountability? There must be something Walker likes about the no accountability thing as he pushes forward with his school voucher plan.