The terms “farm tire inner tubes” and “luxury items” don’t seem to go together – until you take a look at the newest products being sold by Waukegan Tire & Supply Co. Inc. in Park City, Ill.
Along with tires, wheels and automotive service, the dealership is offering clutches, credit card holders, purses, travel bags and unisex brief cases made with recycled farm tire inner tubes.
Waukegan Tire began selling these items produced by a company called Passchal of Richmond, Va., a couple of weeks ago, and they can’t keep them in stock. They’ve sold more than a dozen – at prices ranging from $24 to close to $400 – and have orders for more.
Passchal’s products are “Designed with the environment in mind.” The recycled inner tubes are gathered from Ohio, Virginia and Georgia, and to date the company has re-used about 32 tons of inner tubes. Each of the high-quality products is unique with its own tube markings incorporated into the design.
The tire dealership saw selling the handbags as a way to market to women and further its own “green” initiatives and directives, company officials say. It is the sole tire retail outlet that sells the handbags, the dealership reports.
Waukegan Tire showcases the handbags in their retail outlet, and is currently promoting them on its Web site, www.waukegantire.net, as a raffle prize giveaway. Ten percent of the proceeds go to the United Way.
For more information, also see the Web site www.passchal.com.
