December 11, 2014

TOP 3 REASONS TO SHOP AMERICAN MADE

By Steven Soria

Even though I know it would be cheaper to produce in other countries, the reason I chose to be a “Made in the USA” maker is threefold: quality control, a close relationship with a manufacturer, and short lead times.

1. Quality control

I firmly know that each bag is going to be made the exact the way I want it. I  put time and effort into creating my collection and I thoroughly inspect each bag before it leaves our workshop. We ensure that everything is correct, even down to the color of the thread in the stitching.

2. A close working relationship with our customers

If I am ever feeling unsure about something or have a question I know I can call up my customer and talk to them, and they can call me. People do not understand what a pleasure it is to have a real person pick up a phone. Our customers are investing in my company, as I am investing into them. When they buy from us, they are buying piece-of-mind and creating a relationship with the people who've made their goods.

3. Short lead times

When an order is placed, it will be created as quickly as possible - usually three days. That’s something not all factories can say in the USA, and that beats any lead time overseas. Some companies working with China and Bangladesh place their order six months in advance and pray it will be completed and delivered on time. ( I could go on and on about shipping nightmares, carbon footprint and other environmental issues revolving around outsourcing overseas... but I wont. I'll save that for another blog post.