Hub City Pang Wangle: The Upside to Covid 19

Although most businesses in the US and around the world are
hurting as a result of the global pandemic, some businesses are
booming as a direct result of the lock-down. Yes, there is an
upside to Covid 19.


Pang Wangle


Before a previous disaster, Hurricane Katrina, blew Stephanie
Riegel and her family to Baton Rouge, Stephanie was a journalist
and news anchor at WWL TV in New Orleans. One of Stephanie's
colleagues there was fellow journalist, Jennifer John.


Stephanie is still a journalist but Jennifer John is not, she's
the founder and CEO of  a company with an intriguing name,
Pang Wangle.


The story goes that while Jen was out in the field reporting, she
was so sick of getting bitten up by mosquitoes and other bugs
that she created a line of bug resistant clothing for women:
scarves, wraps, pants, hats, and bags that are not only stylish
and lightweight for life outdoors in the South, but they’re also
impregnated with a safe and long-lasting bug repellant.


Things had been going pretty well since Jen launched Pang Wangle
at the end of 2017. And then along came Covid 19. But,
instead of decimating Jen's business like so many others, the
pandemic got Pang Wangle coverage in the Los Angeles Times, the
Washington Post, New York Lifestyles magazine, and on a coveted
Buzzfeed list.


Hub City


Over the course of the last few months, journalists have found
themselves asking what seems like an endless list of questions
for which there are often no known answers.


How long will this economic downturn last? What happens when your
government assistance runs out? What is the future of education,
of the tourist and convention business, the entertainment
industry, air travel… The list goes on.


But, in the midst of all this uncertainty, there is one economic
question that we get a definite answer to on this edition of Out
to Lunch Louisiana. And that question is – Why, during the
course of this pandemic and unprecedented economic uncertainty
and record unemployment – why are bicycle sales through the roof?


To answer that question, we’re not turning to an economist or
financial pundit, we’re turning to Meg Arcenaux, owner of Hub
City Cycles in Lafayette.


You can also check out Meg's previous appearance on Out to Lunch
Acadiana.


Photos from this show by Jill Lafleur are at our website.


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.