J Ed Marston

Staff Photo by Mike Pare

Innovation is a mainstay of business growth, and a Chattanooga company used a novel approach to try to become a Volkswagen supplier that also helped fill children’s Christmas stockings.

Woodbridge Foam Fabricating hosted VW officials recently and produced toy VW Beetles as a gift to the automaker’s purchasing personnel, said Larry Bush, the local company’s senior human resource manager.

“Our goal and wishes would be to sell them foam for headliners plus other miscellaneous foam parts that go into the vehicles as we do with other automotive companies,” Mr. Bush said.

After the visit, employees mentioned the company should continue production of the novelties and give the foam Beetles to Toys for Tots, he said.

“The elves of Woodbridge began to producing toy VW Beetles for little boys and girls in our community,” Mr. Bush said.

He said the company produced about 300 of the miniature cars and donated them to U.S. Marine representatives for Toys for Tots.

J.Ed. Marston, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s vice president for marketing, said Woodbridge also recently hosted German journalists working on stories about VW and the city.

“It’s being very creative in making an impression on VW officials and some journalists we’re bringing in to get the word out about potential suppliers and other businesses in the market,” Mr. Marston said.