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Beth commented on

Industry Leaders Prepare For Impact Of Tariffs

I imported a LED sign June 2018. As a result, I have fielded a number of queries for LED signs. Our import duty was 0% back in June. The manufacturer is already warning us to expect a 25% tariff. This was a business line worth pursuing. In a matter of 2 months, we are facing 25% increase in cost that is man made. I can understand natural disasters but the currently tariff climate only impacts US businesses.

Sherrie commented on

Industry Leaders Prepare For Impact Of Tariffs

It may be time to vertically integrate domestically and/or develop strategic alliance for vertical integration capability. Sales could even rise in the face of higher prices if custom product did not take 90 days to arrive. Domestic employment would certainly rise. Domestic production would be protected by tariffs on foreign goods. The President is upsetting the current order of things, but new trade laws upset those things decades ago and closed USA paper mills, textile mills, carpet mills, steel mills and many other industry manufacturers. Some families and companies lost everything, but we adapted. Nothing is perfect, but opportunity exists in all circumstances. As long as we have capitalism, we have freedom and motivation to innovate, adapt and prosper!

nick commented on

Industry Leaders Prepare For Impact Of Tariffs

Back in 1924 my Great Granddad and Grandmother started The Standard Jewelry Company in Attleboro Massachusetts, the “birthplace of the jewelry industry in America”. They thrived making emblematic jewelry for all the major charities of that time. In the 1940’s my Father started The Standard Plastic Company also in Attleboro. Shortly after, he converted The Standard Jewelry Co. to plastic and called it The Knobby Krafters. We thrived making emblematic jewelry in plastic for all the major charities of the time. For many years we improved our unique manufacturing process, adding new products and were on a role. Sometime in the 1970’s just when we thought it could never be better, we were discovered by the promotional products industry. Our little factory with 8 molding machines, 15 employees on two shifts became overwhelmed. By the 1980’s and early 90’s we were all running full steam on three shifts, 40 plus employees, 6 days a week. Now with 13 molding machines, we were thriving making emblematic jewelry (now lapel pins) in plastic for everybody through advertising specialty distributors. Before long we went over the 1 billion pins produced mark. Then something strange happened. One day at our booth at the big Advertising Specialty Institute show (I think they only had one show at that time) we noticed a supplier down the aisle a bit, offering to source products from China. He had nothing to show in his booth, made no products, simply said bring a sample of what you want and he would get it in China. As always, our booth was crowded but we noticed some people taking our samples to the China sourcing booth. It was just a matter of time before we found you could get a plastic lapel pin much cheaper in China than from the US. Not only a plastic lapel pin but you can get a metal lapel pin from China for less than our plastic pin. We and others cried “We need to level the playing field”, “It’s not fair”. We prayed for a “Border Adjustment Tax”, none came!!! So, as we passed into a new century, as hard as we tried we could not compete. We had to make a choice: shut down or import. I know the elders were rolling in their graves. We had never sold anything we did not produce here. Plus, we had thousands of “made in America” stickers. We held our breath and looked for suppliers from China. We even moved two molding machines to China. It took several lean years but finally we found good sources, good product and things are running smooth now. We are not setting the world on fire but we are competitive and paying the bills. WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN WE MAY NOW GET A BORDER ADJUSTMENT TAX!!!!! Nicholas W. Nerney (originally written 2017)

Jim commented on

Geiger Names Jo-an Lantz, MAS, President

very much deserved for a legend in the industry. Congrats Jo-an and rock on Geiger!! You have some industry leaders that are very inspiring and forward thinking, thank you!

Al commented on

Industry Leaders Prepare For Impact Of Tariffs

The obvious question to me is so what can be done about the tariff concerns? Everyone seems to agree they are bad for the industry and businesses at large. IMO people need to put pressure on their political representatives to put pressure on Trump to stop the madness! Trump alone -- on behalf of USA businesses -- is declaring a tariff war with China and others. If 'we' don't want it, 'he' has to call it off. We can't! Politicians hold he power to put Trump's feet to the fire. Most of all, we need to see more Republican Congressmen and Senators stand up to him. What he is doing is totally anti traditional conservative beliefs in free trade, etc. Don't let a true economic lightweight and known business failure as Trump is wreck the economy with his totally idiotic trade wars.

Andrea commented on