Mostly Memories settles into former Hagale plant

When Mostly Memories owner Tricia Derges moved her 50-person candle-creating team to the former Hagale Industries Ozark plant last fall, she reunited a half dozen of her employees with their old stomping grounds.

Mostly Memories has been setting up shop at the 60,000-square-foot plant, 601 E. South St., for the past 10 months. The company held a grand opening June 6.

As visitors toured the facility, something on the warehouse floor caught the eye of employee Joyce Henry. When she bent down to pick it up, 15 years of memories flooded back.

Henry, a former Hagale plant supervisor, found a needle from a Hagale pocket-welt machine that she had spent years operating. She is among the half dozen former Hagale employees Derges hired in 2001 when the clothing manufacturing plant shut down.

While Henry has been reunited with her former workplace, she says things are much different there now.

"It's a lot different than making pants. This is like playing," Henry said of her candle-making job.

Mostly Memories creates candles, scented cards and bath and body products for such companies as Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, Dollywood and Bass Pro Shops. The candles also are sold on television's home shopping channel QVC.

The location has a 3,500-square-foot retail shop that opened in February.

"Our goal at some point would be to build a really large (store) in front of the building on Highway 14," Derges said. The company owns 10 acres there.

Grand opening

The store stayed busy throughout the grand opening, drawing visitors from as far away as Texas and St. Louis.

Louise Rush of Springfield and her daughter, Beleta Pierce, visiting from St. Louis, filled their cart full of scented candles. Rush also enjoyed the warehouse tour.

"It's so nice that they allow people to go through and see what they do," Rush said. "It's very interesting."

Jose and Ann Herrera of San Antonio heard about the event on television while vacationing in Branson. They made the short drive to see what Mostly Memories was.

"This is the most interesting place," said Ann Herrera. "I think it will be an attraction for people."

Herrera said she is going to recommend the candles to friends.

But Jose Herrera said it was a little difficult finding the plant. "A billboard somewhere would really help," he said.

Employee perks

The plant offers employees a new incentive, Derges said. Within the plant is a spa where employees receive tickets based on performance that are redeemable for massage therapy, permanent cosmetics and microdermabrasion performed by aestheticians and massage therapists.

"It's something very different (for a factory), but we think the employees are worth it," Derges said.

Derges said the plant is beginning to gear up for the fall season, its busiest time of year. In the fall, employment grows to as many as 200 associates, she said, to meet the demands of QVC and Christmas sales.