CostCo

[Norm DeGuerre]

Sooo...
I bought some "Kirkland" branded jeans Damm..
Material like Levi's used to be, until they started selling imported crap
I am stoked enough to order 5 more pair.

[WARFAB]

Speaking of Levis selling imported crap....

I listened to a podcast that interviewed the founder of Origin Maine. He's trying to bring manufacturing back to the US with his company. In the interview he talked about how the US has lost a lot of the knowledge base to make a lot of products and he's having to find the talent and re-establish things. I guess Levis approached him about manufacturing some of their products domestically and he told them to pound sand. His thought was that Levis offshoring production was part of the reason we're in this predicament, so instead he's going to compete and take some of their market share.

I'm a poor, so I can't afford products from either company, but I still like to hear about re-shoring production capacity.

[Norm DeGuerre]

I can ???? t imagine the upfront cost to start up a mfg of anything these days I get a t just does not happen

[WARFAB]

I can ???? t imagine the upfront cost to start up a mfg of anything these days I get a t just does not happen

I have no idea how much Origin is starting from scratch, and how much they're rescuing businesses on the brink. The podcast obviously didn't cover everything, but he did mention taking over a shop somewhere in the southeast that was auctioning off all of its equipment. Supposedly he got notice of the auction and negotiated buying the entire facility and keeping it going instead of parting everything out.

He also mentioned that his business is now considered 'critical infrastructure' by the government because in a wartime situation, we need be able to manufacture this stuff domestically. Kind of disappointing to hear because I'm sure that means he's getting government money. I guess an entrepreneur making it big based solely on free market enterprise is a naive idea these days. I wish the government would just lower taxes all around and quit picking the winners and lovers, but that is probably just a sign of my age.

[Norm Deguerre x2]

Yup
It's your age. )