Three Generations
ITS: It's all about family
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
ITS has been garment making in the USA for three generations. The leaders and teams at ITS believe in building long-lasting relationships with customers and this helps ITS remain a reliable cut and sew manufacturer in the USA. As a specialized sewing manufacturer, customers order consistently from ITS for innovative products and high quality goods and services.
A THORNHILL WITH A DREAM
Our founder, Glenn Thornhill, Sr., and his new bride, purchased a bankrupt company in 1936. He successfully transitioned the struggling organization into a brand new company employing many local skilled workers in Virginia. The initial Virginia textile cut and sew company was named “Maid Bess”. This humble beginning serves as a reminder for ITS today to remain a strong presence in apparel manufacturing in America.
Three Generations
A CALL TO SERVE.
Then, in 1941, Glenn Sr. was drafted to Ft. Benning GA for WWII basic training. We’re not sure how it came about, but not too long after he arrived, he returned back to Salem to begin much-needed war production. Glenn Sr. was charming and he was smart. He knew how to get his point across, so we suspect he convinced the top brass that his talents could best be used to serve the war effort by returning home and making the best possible products for his country. And like most people on the other end of his reasoning, they agreed. Glenn ran a tight ship at his factory, which was mostly employed by women as the men were off fighting the war. Just like the famous WWII-era Rosie Riveter poster said, ‘we can do it’! And they did!
FAST FOOD AND FAST GROWTH.
As the company moved into the 1950s and 60s, we entered a period of rapid expansion. Pretty soon we were making uniforms for just about every fast food chain in America, and America had fallen in love with fast food. Together with other extended family members and colleagues, we formed a string of factories around SW VA and NC and worked overtime to meet the demand.
Three Generations
ENTER A NEW THORNHILL.
At some point in the late 50s, 15 year old Glenn Jr. starting working in the factory. His dad made sure he worked hard from day one, sweeping floors after work, and after college in 1965, he started as Plant Manager in Salem. He was also instructed to drive to the other factories around the region to learn how things were done, and he was expected to arrive between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, driving at least an hour each way. So, the days were long, the work was challenging, but Glenn Jr. quickly found his path and continued to grow the business steadily, earning the love and respect of workers and customers alike.
MEANWHILE, BACK HOME…
another future leader was earning her stripes as a mother of 6(!). Glenn Jr.’s wife, Joanne, who would many years later step into ownership, was busy raising a new generation of Thornhills and watching in awe as her husband took the company to new heights. She would sometimes drop into the factory, children in tow, and was amazed by the piles and piles of uniforms in and around the shop floor. Little did she know that someday she’d be deciding what kind of piles they would be! But for the moment, she had her hands full.
Three Generations
A SHIFT OF GLOBAL PROPORTIONS
It had been smooth sailing for a while as we came into the 1990s, and then NAFTA came along and changed everything for domestic manufacturing. We were no exception. We watched as much of our work went initially to Mexico, and later to all parts of the world, landing mostly in China. Many factories had to close. But this new period of uncertainty gave way to new kinds of ingenuity for our company, and Glenn Jr. learned to pivot and change course. This ultimately helped us become better innovators for our customers, to get us where we are today.
THE MAGNIFICENT ‘MOM’ TO OUR PIONEERING ‘POP’.
It was during the tough 90’s era that Joanne emptied her nest and rolled up her sleeves. ITS became a woman-owned company when Joanne stepped in as 51% owner, and put her considerable talents to work alongside her husband. When asked to reveal her secret to success, Joanne is quick to admit that it was finding and learning from a series of very smart experts (many of them women) in a variety of areas, from OSHA to HR. She even found someone to help her procure the finest new cutter available. And she made it a priority to diversify the company’s offerings.
DIVERSIFICATION, DILIGENCE AND DAVID.
The present era of our company has proven to be one of adaptation, innovation and growth. Much of this has been handled by yet another Thornhill at the helm, Glenn and Joanne’s son, David. Both Glenn and Joanne light up when asked about, David Thornhill’s leadership abilities; they believe his vision has solidified the growth of the company over the last decade.
