Those March Madness phrases often used by announcers like “nothing but net” or “nothing but nylon” have to be music to the ears of management and staff at Carron Net Company in Two Rivers. Bill Kiel Junior is the President and sole owner of the company’s two locations in the city. During an interview with Seehafer News, Kiel said his great-grandfather, Ed Carron, was a fisherman, net-maker,& lighthouse keeper and “made his living on the water in the early 1900s.”
Audio PlayerKiel’s great uncle, Norman Carron, was instrumental in turning that in-home business into a company, with the official startup in 1934.
Audio PlayerThe President and CEO says they have two primary lines of business today, custom-made to order.
Audio PlayerThe industrial netting portion of the business came on the scene in the mid-’80s after the decline of the commercial fishing industry in the 1970s. Kiel says their most recognizable product is All-State Good Hands nets.
Audio PlayerCarron Nets gets a lot of its’ orders by word-of-mouth and he cited the example of the football team at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
Audio PlayerKiel explains the nets are both created by machines and by sewers & sewing assistants.
Audio PlayerThe company owner explains the Milwaukee Brewers were a client of theirs with backstop netting, up until several years ago.
Audio PlayerBill Kiel Junior says they have a great relationship with local high school, college & park & recreation departments with buying their products. Carron Net has 35-full-time employees and they’ve been growing steadily since the recession years and are now in their 85th year.
