Podcast Summary
The mystery behind the largest buyer of glitter revealed: A Reddit post about a secretive industry buying large quantities of glitter from a New Jersey company sparked curiosity and speculation online
The mysterious origins and unexpected popularity of glitter, a seemingly mundane craft supply, has sparked intrigue and speculation online. A Reddit post by independent writer Zach Brook about the unidentified industry that buys the most glitter from a New Jersey-based company, GlitRx, gained significant attention with thousands of comments. The company's reluctance to reveal the answer led to various theories and assumptions. The allure of the unknown and potential implications of the industry's involvement in the glitter market fueled the discussion. The intrigue surrounding the glitter mystery demonstrates how the internet can uncover and amplify unusual stories, leading to widespread curiosity and engagement.
Investigating the Enigma of the Glitter Industry: Journalist David Boweri embarks on a quest to uncover the origins and largest buyers of glitter, facing challenges due to the industry's closed nature. Starting in the 'gumshoe arena', he plans to visit factories and headquarters, and discover local watering holes for information.
The origins and largest buyers of glitter, an seemingly innocuous yet potentially mysterious substance, remain largely unknown to the public. This was brought to light in a New York Times story that raised questions about the industry and sparked numerous theories on Reddit. The closed nature of the glitter industry, according to investigative journalist David Boweri, makes uncovering this information a challenging yet intriguing endeavor. Boweri, known for his investigative reporting on serious crimes, was recruited to help shed light on this enigma. He suggested starting in the "gumshoe arena," which includes visiting the factories and headquarters, such as Glitorex in Cranford, New Jersey, and discovering the local watering holes where employees might let their guards down and share information. The pursuit of this knowledge is driven by the belief that almost all things are knowable, and that someone out there has the answer.
Exploring unconventional methods to uncover information: Exploring unconventional methods, such as court records and dumpster diving, can lead to valuable insights. Approaching the source directly, even with initial setbacks, can reveal important clues.
Sometimes, the answers to mysteries lie closer to their sources than we might initially think. In the given discussion, David shares various unconventional methods to uncover information, ranging from going through court records to dumpster diving. Although these methods might seem risky, they can lead to valuable insights. David and Anne Marie embark on their investigation at GlitRx, a glitter company in New Jersey. Despite some initial rookie mistakes, such as visiting on a Monday afternoon, they manage to meet Jeet, one of the company's owners. However, they are unable to secure an interview, leaving them empty-handed. Despite the setback, the encounter provides valuable clues. They notice a glass case displaying various products that use GlitRx's glitter. This discovery suggests that the company's biggest customer might not be such a mystery after all. Thus, the key takeaway is to explore various methods to uncover information, even if they seem unconventional or risky. Sometimes, the answers we seek might be closer than we think, and approaching the source directly can lead to valuable insights.
The glitter industry's secrets: The glitter industry's secrecy has led to a unique history, with limited companies producing glitter and machines being highly sought after despite their mysterious inner workings.
The glitter industry is shrouded in secrecy, with manufacturers guarding their methods and machines closely. This was exemplified by Joe Coburn's experience in Germany, where he discovered two old glitter machines and found that people were willing to pay large sums of money to obtain them, despite not fully understanding how they worked. The demand for these machines was so high that Joe's father was able to sell one for a significant profit, without even revealing the inner workings of the machine. This secretiveness has carried on through the years, making glitter a unique and intriguing industry with a rich history. The invention of glitter itself was a secret, with it being discovered accidentally by a New Jersey cattle rancher in 1934. The limited number of companies producing glitter today can be attributed to this secrecy, making it a fascinating subject for further exploration.
Automotive Industry: Biggest Client for Glitter: The automotive industry's demand for large quantities of glitter to enhance paint appearance maintains the industry's profitability despite competition.
The glitter industry, despite increased competition, continues to be a profitable business due to the large quantities and consistent demand from various industries, particularly automotive paint. Joe Coburn, who grew up in the glitter business, is confident that this is the industry's biggest client. The thin glitter particles used in automotive paint require large amounts to achieve the desired effect of a uniform, brilliant appearance. Car paint companies like PPG Industries, which manufacture paint for major car brands, confirm this use of glitter. Although the margins have decreased, the sheer volume of glitter sold over long periods results in substantial revenue.
Misconceptions about Effect Pigments in the Automotive Industry: Effect pigments, used in automotive paint for depth and complexity, are not primarily sourced from glitter companies, and there's no evidence of military use for cloaking purposes.
Effect pigments, which are highly engineered forms of glitter in powder or flake form, are widely used in the automotive paint industry to add depth and complexity to paint. However, contrary to popular beliefs, glitter companies are not the primary source for these materials. The misconception arises from the semantic similarity between effect pigments and glitter. Effect pigments are not used by the military as cloaking agents or for vehicles due to their reflective properties, and there is no substantial evidence to support this theory. The search for the true identity of the major consumer of glitter continues, with the automotive paint industry being a strong contender. Despite the ongoing investigation, the exact use and source of these materials remain a closely guarded secret in the industry.
The Glitter Industry's Secrets: RJA Plastics and 'The Devil': The glitter industry, including RJA Plastics, is secretive about their biggest customer and a particular glitter-making machine called 'The Devil'. Competition from countries like China and Taiwan and the need for biodegradable glitter add to the industry's challenges, but the lack of transparency raises suspicion.
The glitter industry, specifically the Coburn family business, RJA Plastics, is secretive about certain aspects of their operations, including the identity of their biggest customer and the nature of one particular glitter-making machine named "The Devil." This secrecy is not unusual in business, according to senior lecturer Greg Staller, but the repeated evasiveness of the industry raises suspicion. The glitter industry is facing increasing competition from countries like China and Taiwan, and the challenge of producing biodegradable glitter to reduce the use of plastic. Despite these pressures, the industry remains tight-lipped about their operations. The Coburn family's reluctance to share information, particularly about "The Devil" machine, which cuts a mysterious material and is known to be loud and robust, adds to the intrigue. The identity of GlitRx, a rival glitter company, and their relationship to the Coburn family business remains unclear. The lack of transparency in the glitter industry, while not necessarily sinister, highlights the competitive nature of the business and the importance of protecting proprietary information.
Boat Industry's Use of Glitter in Gel Coats: The boat industry uses large quantities of glitter in their gel coats for protective and cosmetic purposes, making it their biggest consumer of glitter.
The boat manufacturing industry is a significant consumer of glitter, using it in large quantities for producing glitter paint in their gel coats. This information was uncovered through a series of investigative steps, including reaching out to industry sources and even trying to contact boat manufacturers directly. One source, Brandon Pittman from HK Research Corporation, confirmed that boat manufacturers purchase gel coat substance from his company and mix it with glitter they obtain directly from glitter manufacturers. The volume of glitter used by the boat industry is much greater than in other industries like greeting cards or cosmetics. This discovery answers the initial mystery of why GlitRx, a glitter manufacturer, did not want to reveal their biggest clients. The boat industry's use of glitter in their gel coats is likely a protective and cosmetic measure to create visually appealing and durable boats.
Uncovering the Extensive Use of Glitter in Boat Paint: Investigative journalism uncovered two main US manufacturers of glitter used in boat paint, GlitRx and Meadowbrook Inventions, with annual demand reaching 15,600 gallons.
The use of glitter in boat paint is more extensive than one might expect, with some companies going through 10 30-gallon drums per week, amounting to 15,600 gallons annually. This revelation came from an investigation into the source of glitter used by one boat company, which led to the identification of two main manufacturers in the United States: GlitRx and Meadowbrook Inventions. The distributor for these companies is Polykrill, located outside of Memphis, Tennessee, and is the primary supplier for many boat companies. Despite the mundane nature of the discovery, the journey to uncover this information was intriguing, highlighting the unexpected twists and turns that can come with investigative journalism. While GlitRx declined to comment on the findings, the investigation was made possible through the expertise and insights shared by Dan Benton, Ed Jones, Vanessa Patrick, and Jerry Mand. Endless Thread is a production of WBUR Boston's NPR station in partnership with Reddit.
