...the POM POM MAN...!!!
As Even Pompoms Are Outsourced, a Fixture in the Field Bears Up
By ADA LEE HALOFSKY
Published: December 5, 2004 ny times
John Jones's hands are wide and strong, suited for using a sledgehammer or a welding torch. But since 1952, those calloused fingers have occupied themselves with far more delicate tasks. They have coaxed hair-thin threads and brightly colored yarns into tassels, cording and especially pompoms that have adorned everything from the elephants at the Barnum & Bailey Circus to the costumes of Broadway stars, and, natch, the hands of cheerleaders.
Mr. Jones, the ultimate niche entrepreneur, is the owner of Novelty Pom Pom, a factory on West 37th Street, and the other day he could be found bending over a card table covered with braided gold cord twisted into bows and strung with glass beads as big as marbles.
"These are napkin rings for a fancy dinner party," Mr. Jones said, gesturing at the items being turned out by Kay Carlis, a woman in her early 70's who has worked with him for more than 50 years. "Yeah, they are nice," he said as Ms. Carlis beamed.
From the 1960's into the 80's, when the pompom industry was at its heyday, if one could call it that, about eight trimmings factories like Novelty Pom Pom were located in the garment district. Now there are perhaps two others, as more factory work is sent to India and China, a trend that is sparing not even the relatively obscure pompom industry.
Still, Mr. Jones sees a place for his business. "We do customized work, specialties, that you can't get overseas or mass produced," he said. He has fulfilled requests from Macy's, which needed tassels yards long and thick as rope for its Christmas windows. For a bride, he produced a bedspread made entirely of tassels.
Still, cheap manufacturing abroad and escalating rents have taken their toll on Novelty. In response, the company moved last April to its current location, from a more expensive space a few blocks away.
But Mr. Jones's customer base has remained loyal. "John is the first person you go to for customized colors and mixes in pompoms," said Brenda Turpin, a buyer for Barbara Matera Limited, a premier costume-maker for theater and film. When Ms. Turpin placed a pompom order for the San Francisco Ballet's annual holiday performance of "Nutcracker," Mr. Jones said what he had said to every caller that particular morning: "O.K., terrific. No problem."
His even temper is one of his trademarks. "To succeed in business," Mr. Jones said, "10 percent is circumstance. Ninety percent is attitude." This may explain how he began working in a trade at a time where there were few black business owners. "I always felt I was as special as anyone," he said. "You can't be in business and be a pessimist."
Soon, in deference to the desires of his wife, Mr. Jones will turn many of his tasks over to young apprentices and begin working just two days a week. "I wouldn't get into the business as a young man," he said. "I don't see that much future in it anymore. I'm in it more or less to keep myself busy."
i will take some photos another time 
I'm so glad I came back if only to read this. I've been obsessed with pompon's for the longest time. I was very inspired my a MMM fur brooch I saw on ebay quite some time ago, and I was like, "Hey, I can make that out of a pompon!" 
I've made a few bracelets and couple of necklaces out of huge pompons ( I just bought mine already made.) This is a very inspiring thread.
Kind of like wearing a pillow on your neck, but its so cool.
)
A ropey thing of sorts?
