Case study
Manufacturing – New Plant Launch
A manufacturer needed to hire 600 employees for a new plant in Fort Mill, SC — while overcoming community backlash. Imagine deployed a Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) model and a full-scale marketing campaign that in the first month hired 250 hourly employees and 75 salaried employees.
Challenge
Our client was preparing to open a new manufacturing plant in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and needed to hire 600 employees to support operations. However, the project faced community backlash due to environmental concerns surrounding the location, creating reputational challenges before the facility even opened.
The client needed a strategy that would not only fill a large number of roles quickly but also shift public perception and establish the plant as a positive presence in the community.
Solution
Imagine recommended a Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) model to give the client the scale and flexibility necessary for such a large hiring initiative. By integrating closely with the client's talent strategy, Imagine could streamline processes, expand recruiting reach, and deploy resources where they were needed most. At the same time, Imagine developed a full-scale marketing campaign designed to change the narrative around the plant. The campaign focused on emphasizing job creation, economic impact, and long-term opportunities for Fort Mill and the surrounding communities.
Outcome
The combined recruitment and marketing strategy quickly delivered strong results. Within the first month, Imagine successfully hired 250 hourly employees—already halfway to the hourly hiring goal. In the first six months, 75 salaried employees were also onboarded, building out the leadership and support teams critical to operations. Beyond the numbers, the marketing efforts helped ease community concerns and reposition the client as a positive contributor to the region. Together, these efforts not only set the foundation for reaching the full staffing goal of 600 employees but also helped the client launch its new facility with stronger community alignment and an elevated employer brand.
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