The continuing issues in the global supply chain are a win for a small business in Ohio.
On the Mantle LLC dba W. Britain Toys is expanding its operations in Chillicothe, Ohio with an investment of more than $226,000 to add manufacturing capabilities to its headquarters. W. Britain Toys is one of the most famous names in the world of collectible toy soldiers and while its legacy is rooted in the UK, it’s been an American-owned company for more than 25 years.
“Like most businesses in this country, the unforeseen complications of COVID-19 and related shipping backlogs from China over the past two years have illustrated how dependent we have become on offshore manufacturing,” says President of W.Britain, Ken Osen. “With the recent experience of global supply chain problems, we are convinced that a larger percentage of our unique products can be entirely designed and produced here in the U.S., and with the support of JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development this is becoming a reality.”
JobsOhio supported W. Britain with a $25,000 JobsOhio Inclusion Grant and Ohio Southeast Economic Development assisted with the grant process.
Osen says that the company is putting its investment toward the hiring of eight new employees and the specialized equipment needed to produce high-quality toys and collectibles.
“As a community, we are excited to welcome this manufacturer of custom figurines, scenery, and historical models to our downtown district,” says Tammy Eallonardo, director of economic development, Greater Chillicothe & Ross County. “Similar items have been sold at Chillicothe’s History Store for many years and are very popular among collectors and history buffs. It is exciting to know that these items will now be manufactured locally.
W. Britain was founded in 1893 as a family-owned and operated business in the UK. For decades, the company expanded its production of miniature figurines, scenery, and historical models, eventually becoming known for farm and space toys. By the mid-1980s, the toy solider and historical business was being deemed “collectible” and separated from the other toys.
Since that time, ownership of the company has changed hands, with companies including Ertl, Racing Champions, and First Gear among the major players. While the farm toys are still sold by TOMY’s Ertl division under the “Britains” name, the W. Britain Toys business was spun off into its own entity and sold several times since.
