Nashville-based Oreck opened its first factory outlet store in Cookeville Friday. The vacuum-maker has been able to expand even through the recession, adding 50 manufacturing and call center jobs in Cookeville this year.

Founder David Oreck says customers are more focused on value when money is tight. He says the company’s infomercials give potential buyers time to be convinced the products work.

“They’re informative and if people are going to make a major investment, they want to be educated. And I think the infomercial does a good job of that.”

Oreck says customers are also attracted to a vacuum cleaner made in America, even if many of the parts come from overseas.

The company moved its headquarters to Nashville from the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Its only factory also relocated to Cookeville and now employs 600 workers.