Small Manufacturers Win with a Startup Mindset

Last year, something curious happened to Hitch-Hiker Manufacturing, a 52-year-old manufacturer of custom-made concession trailers. They became, in many ways, a startup. “When COVID hit, four projects were shelved and there were no new orders coming in,” recalls Holly Swartz, who co-owns the Ohio-based family business with her husband, Jeff. “We were questioning how to keep our employees on, how to keep our industry together, and how to keep people safe.”