Clothing left behind in US manufacturing resurgence

[tonypep]

Currently on MSNBC. Great read

[californiadreamin]

It is a good read.
There are many good articles, in papers all over the world discussing this issue.
We are all hypocrites! We can somehow justify a $5.00 Moca joca,grande latte,, with
caramel fudge, and chocolate shavings, and feel really good about ourselves while listening
to our ipods while people like these live in a "HellHole" called Bangladesh, are just trying to survive.

 A little old lady in Calcutta once said: It is a poverty to decide that a child must die, so that
you may live as you wish!

There Is No Excuse! Period.

[EmbellishAthletics]

Exactly!!  They will pay $8.50 for a McDonalds super size quarter pounder meal but don't want to pay $5.00 for a decorated t-shirt that will last years.....we are done with schools/PTA's!!!!!  I know this isn't related to the article but indirectly it is.  Everyone wants to blame the government for all the problems....and there is plenty of blame to place on them...but a lot of it starts at home.

[californiadreamin]

Exactly!!  They will pay $8.50 for a McDonalds super size quarter pounder meal but don't want to pay $5.00 for a decorated t-shirt that will last years.....we are done with schools/PTA's!!!!!  I know this isn't related to the article but indirectly it is.  Everyone wants to blame the government for all the problems....and there is plenty of blame to place on them...but a lot of it starts at home.

I am sorry that you are having problems at your home! I know the government can be a
problem. I am sorry that your are done with the schools/PTA's. I imagine if they didn't by so
many Mcdonalds  supersize quarter pounder meals for $8.50 That they probably could
afford a few more $5.00 shirts. This is a big problem here also. what do we do?

[ZooCity]

I'm sticking my neck out here...but I think custom imprinted Ts and maybe just clothing "basics" in general are items that where the price consumers think is reasonable is simply not reasonable in terms of production of the item.  I'm not sure how something like that happens but it seems like it did.  I imagine there's an economics term for this.

Perhaps it's time to steer the trend back toward a quality v. quantity outlook.  I can only wonder at the wardrobes most American's keep, nearly all of it cheap ass import clothing.

Anyways, the reality for u.s.-made anything is addressed pretty well in that article.  The This American Life broadcast on Apple has a section in it that gives the hard, stark figures on why you can't have yer iWhatever made in the states- there's not enough of us who know how to make stuff anymore.  It's not actually cost believe it or not, it's the sheer logistical impossibility of getting enough of the right skilled labor in the u.s. to build and run a factory.  That comment in the article about how we've erred by telling the kids they need to delve deep into academia rather than learn a true trade is right on the money.  We can't get America "back to work" or whatever because our skill set isn't in demand anywhere anymore.  I learned that hard fact awhile ago and it's pretty sobering for someone who's owned a company with a focus on u.s.-made.

[whitewater]

I'm sticking my neck out here...but I think custom imprinted Ts and maybe just clothing "basics" in general are items that where the price consumers think is reasonable is simply not reasonable in terms of production of the item.  I'm not sure how something like that happens but it seems like it did.  I imagine there's an economics term for this.

Perhaps it's time to steer the trend back toward a quality v. quantity outlook.  I can only wonder at the wardrobes most American's keep, nearly all of it cheap ass import clothing.

Anyways, the reality for u.s.-made anything is addressed pretty well in that article.  The This American Life broadcast on Apple has a section in it that gives the hard, stark figures on why you can't have yer iWhatever made in the states- there's not enough of us who know how to make stuff anymore.  It's not actually cost believe it or not, it's the sheer logistical impossibility of getting enough of the right skilled labor in the u.s. to build and run a factory.  That comment in the article about how we've erred by telling the kids they need to delve deep into academia rather than learn a true trade is right on the money.  We can't get America "back to work" or whatever because our skill set isn't in demand anywhere anymore.  I learned that hard fact awhile ago and it's pretty sobering for someone who's owned a company with a focus on u.s.-made.

we are a service country...not a manufacturing one..

[californiadreamin]

Glad to see we are back on track. I couldn't resist my last post, I felt I was on another
planet!
If we are talking t-shirts, the skill level to make them is not very high. Hence, look at where
they are made. Not long ago, I sat in the office of an American company, in Central America. Their annual sales a billion dollars, with all their divisions. I ask about the future
of what they thought. They said Central America was ok for now, but that they could save
8 cents a shirt by going to another country to sew. I said you have to be kidding me. He said no. He said cost was that important to the shareholders. I said than why are you not in Haiti? I still say that there is a market for American made goods! A dollar more is all it would cost. Forget selling to the Walmarts, etc. New markets would have to be used. I have
no problem for companies wanting to maximize profits. I have a big problem when the "said" companies go to "wherever" and "screw" the living daylights out of the people for
pennies, while parading around the globe marketing that they are Upstanding, Environmently Friendly, Sustainable, Doing business with a conscience and yet know that
it is a "crock of schitt". It has nothing to do about the poor people. They put conditions on
some of these factories, that even they themselves did not operate under, and could not,
operate under when they were manufacturing in the USA, because they lacked the will and
the skill that they are imposing on some of these poor people, But, alot of the people don't
know any better. They are just doing the best job possible for the little they are making. If these companies really care, then why don't they put down "brick and motor" as some companies do, and "practice what they preach", making a long term commitment to the
people, that they are making so much off of, instead of waiting for a lower priced "garment
whores" to continue the cycle of misery. I am for bringing jobs back to the USA.
winston

 

[EmbellishAthletics]

I am sorry you didn't understand the post. Welcome back to the planet.

[californiadreamin]

I am sorry you didn't understand the post. Welcome back to the planet.

Thanks! My mistake. In reality your post made a "heck" of lot more sense than mine.
I relate totally to what you were saying, and you are correct! My bad!
winston

[EmbellishAthletics]

Welcome back again!  So since you don't understand a post you feel the need to fire back with some sarcastic bunch of bull instead of ask the person to elaborate?  I am sorry you didn't get it and I am sorry you felt the need to bash it. Certainly everything you post is golden.

Debt canceled. Do you get that?

[alan802]

What the hell just happened in here? 

[IntegrityShirts]

What the hell just happened in here?

Yeah I don't get it either. I can't make heads or tails of it!

[californiadreamin]

It was my mistake! My original post was "tongue n cheek" on the situation of cause and
effect of manufacturing in the USA and in the third world realm. I read Tony's post and the
link he was referring to. Hence my post. I take(good or bad) this kind of news to heart. With
500 people dead now, I am even more sad on these needless deaths. It was avoidable! In taking jobs away from the USA, and placing them in "hellhole" countries so that profits are
higher, in conditions like these, is no excuse! My mistake was that I could not understand the logic in the, posters thread relating to these serious issues. Instead of keeping quiet which, I normally due, I replied in the manner, that I viewed the post. Which was not correct! I am sorry. Those that know me, and those that don't, know that I mean no bad will
to anyone. Again seeing the industry go down the tubes, in an unfair  manner for us in the USA pi$$es  me off. Sorry!
winston

[EmbellishAthletics]

It was frustration coming out for me also.  I was trying to make a point that I believe that each individual in the US is where all of this starts.  We can't just continue to blame the government although they do have to shoulder a ton of the blame.  But, IMHO, the US consumers are becoming gluttons!!  They want so much and that thins their budgets so thus they DEMAND ridiculous prices.

Yes, it is some of the manufactures gouging and expecting enormous profit margins  so they choose to go overseas although they could still make/sell here with a decent margin.

I will give you a real life example (irrelevant compared to the seriousness of the events) but relevant to the discussion.  I had a customer call me from a booster club and ask if I could print 24 flannel shorts for her because they were 4-6 weeks out on delivering printed goods.  She said they were going to charge her $3.00 a piece to print them and would I match it.  I said yes.  I printed the shorts, one color white ink and she came and picked them up.  A couple days later she sends me an e-mail and said she told another printer about the shorts and he said he would have done them for $2.63 and THEN she ask if I would refund the $.37 cents per print since the other guy would have done them cheaper.

Now to give you some background on this particular lady.  Her husband is an accountant, works out of their $300,000.00 house in the same neighborhood we live, has a lake house on one of the premier lakes around here...yada yada yada.  She doesn't work or should I say a stay at home mom who happens to be in charge of the spirit wear for the booster club.  Beats down all of the local printers on price.....and she is proud of it.  Goes from printer to printer until she gets the lowest price. 

It is an isolated event.  It is silly compared to the seriousness of the discussion but it is common in our area.  They just keeping pounding everyone on price so that they get buy more and more and give more and more to their kids.  This same booster club spent $10,000.00 for the facility and catering for a one night sports banquet last year and then went around to all of the business's asking for donations.  Gluttony?  When we had our sports banquet we had it in the gym and were lucky if they catered in cheap BBQ.  We were happy...didn't know any better....now it has to be in fancy hotel ballrooms with prime rib and lobster.

I know...it's progress right?  Who knows.  I don't have all the answers.  Just venting but I do think the consumers themselves have to take a look in the mirror if we are to start solving some of these problems.  It doesn't just fall on the government and the manufactures and the retailers......

So all of that is what I wanted to say in the first post but I was in a hurry and I was pi*s*d so I shot something out there.  Winston to get the intent and decided to fire off a sarcastic "tongue in cheek" response.  That pissed me off......so that's where it started.

No hard feelings....it is just internet forums!!

[alan802]

I will give you a real life example (irrelevant compared to the seriousness of the events) but relevant to the discussion.  I had a customer call me from a booster club and ask if I could print 24 flannel shorts for her because they were 4-6 weeks out on delivering printed goods.  She said they were going to charge her $3.00 a piece to print them and would I match it.  I said yes.  I printed the shorts, one color white ink and she came and picked them up.  A couple days later she sends me an e-mail and said she told another printer about the shorts and he said he would have done them for $2.63 and THEN she ask if I would refund the $.37 cents per print since the other guy would have done them cheaper.

Now to give you some background on this particular lady.  Her husband is an accountant, works out of their $300,000.00 house in the same neighborhood we live, has a lake house on one of the premier lakes around here...yada yada yada.  She doesn't work or should I say a stay at home mom who happens to be in charge of the spirit wear for the booster club.  Beats down all of the local printers on price.....and she is proud of it.  Goes from printer to printer until she gets the lowest price. 

I would have no problems telling this lady exactly what you said in your post and then sending her off with a "go to hell".