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Why Walmart and Costco Shrimp Prices Are So Low
in Food Products, Seafood, Slave Labor, WalmartSome of the most popular American corporations are importing shrimp at super-cheap prices from Thailand, where migrant workers are in slavery, like in Nazi Germany, being tortured while they work for no pay 20 hours a day. How much shrimp is being imported that’s processed by slaves, including child slaves? Walmart and Costco are contributing to the chaos, buying and selling shrimp exported from Thailand every year, and it’s slave-labor shrimp at “rock bottom” cost. No wonder Walmart and Costco are such “successful” businesses. What else are they buying that’s made by slaves who are tortured mentally and physically while working 20-hour days for zero pay? Wine, maybe?
Read more
House Votes to Repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for Meat
in Country of Origin (COOL), Food Products, World Trade Organization (WTO)The House of Representatives has voted to repeal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef, pork, and chicken. Read more
Innovation and Hard Work Made America Great
in Education, Made in USA, Manufacturing, Production, Skills GapGuest post by Monica Gomez
America has always been known as the “land of opportunity.” But opportunity doesn’t knock unless you work hard for it. While tycoons and businessmen may have shaped the oil, steel, and auto industries, the reality is many of them came from humble beginnings, and worked alongside the skilled tradesmen they later employed before amassing their own wealth—a true testament to the power of the American dream. Read more
SoftWear Automation, Creating U.S. Jobs by Revolutionizing the Textile Industry
in CLOTHING -MEN & WOMEN, FOOTWEAR AND ACCESSORIES, HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES, Made in USA, Manufacturing, Reshoring, WalmartThe SewBots have arrived and they are bringing manufacturing back to the United States. SoftWear Automation, in Atlanta Georgia, has developed robotic technology for the textile industry to automate sewing, significantly reducing manufacturing labor costs. The machines are surprisingly inexpensive and allow for greater precision, higher speed and much longer hours than the traditional seamstress can manage by hand.
“Not only will this technology help manufacturers bring operations back to the United States with the reduction of labor costs, it will create higher paying technical jobs for American workers.”, said Valerie. Traditionally, manufacturing jobs are some of the least desirable roles that many individuals do not desire due to the repetition, poor work environments (hot warehouse, anyone?) and low wages. High turnover and an aging workforce have made it difficult for manufacturers to keep jobs here. Additionally, other nations do not have minimum wage restrictions and are willing to use underage labor due to less stringent regulations. All of these factors have created a void of manufacturing in the United States, SoftWear Automation would like to change that.
The U.S. has lost thousands of jobs in the past 10 years due to offshoring. In 1960, 95% of clothing sold in the USA was made here. Today, 98% of clothing purchased in the U.S. was made abroad. By implementing this technology, American manufacturing plants have several advantages:
Tailored clothing and details customized to an individual have long been expensive due to the additional time and costs to create customization. SoftWear technology eliminates that additional cost. Add this to online ordering and it is a recipe for low cost customization. For example, the software could make your jeans slightly smaller in the waist than the last pair of jeans in the same amount of time it would have made them anyway.
“Robotics are already taking over multiple industries, creating safer work environments and helping with some tough, dirty jobs. Textiles have been challenging to automate due to the pliable nature of fabric. SoftWear has created hardware that detects bunching and can fix creases before fabric is sewn, changing the game in fabric automation.“, said Valerie.
Walmart believes in bringing manufacturing back to the United States, but they also know that keeping prices low will be a challenge for their brands. Walmart invested a two million dollar grant to SoftWear Automation, through ATDC, to help bridge the gap and provide this technology to brands that want to bring their manufacturing home.
Sound exciting? We left out just one thing: this technology is for ALL SEWN products. Shoes, curtains, jackets, pants, carpet, towels, ties, hats, backpacks, blankets, bedding, car upholstery, handbags, hair ties, baby toys…
Watch the SoftWear LOWRY system work its magic here:
Connect with the friendly team @SoftWearInc on twitter to stay updated on how they continually disrupt the manufacturing industry.
What sewn products are you most excited to have Made In America?
Trans-Pacific Partnership: The Biggest Trade Deal You’ve Never Heard Of
in Economy, Jobs, Outsourcing, TPP, Trade DeficitA huge but little-known trade agreement could transform America’s foreign relations. What it is and why it matters. Read more
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – No to Fast Track
in TPP, Trade DeficitRead more
Trending Products Made in USA
in Consumer Products, Domestic Sourcing, Made in USA, Marketing Your Brand, Products, ToysIn a recent study conducted by Consumer Reports, more than 60 percent of people interviewed claimed they would gladly shell out more money for American made products—even if those products cost an average of 10 percent more than products sourced internationally. Read more
The Biggest Chicken Seller in the U.S. Is Eliminating Antibiotics
in Food ProductsTyson Foods will no longer use human antibiotics in chickens. The Arkansas-based company, the nation’s largest seller of chicken, is announcing today that it plans to eliminate the use of medically important antibiotics in its flocks by September 2017. Read more
The Lowdown on Shrimp Labels
in Consumer ProductsShopping for shrimp is confusing. Packages can have so many labels that it’s hard to know which ones to trust. One way to separate the best from the rest is to buy sustainably farmed or responsibly caught. We believe that your best choice is wild shrimp, especially those that have been responsibly caught in the U.S. Read more
National Pork Producers Council on COOL Law: U.S. Must Avoid Retaliation
in Consumer Products, Country of Origin (COOL), USDA, World Trade Organization (WTO)In congressional testimony Thursday, the National Pork Producers Council said the United States must address its mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law to avoid trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico.
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Reshoring: Companies Tiptoe Back Toward ‘Made in U.S.A.’
in ManufacturingPITTSBURGH—Thorley Industries LLC began planning several years ago to launch a baby car seat with a set of electronic controls and a potential novelty: The Pittsburgh-based firm considered making the seats in the U.S. Read more
Made in USA, From Sheep to Shelf: Zady’s Feel-Good Sweater
in CLOTHING -MEN & WOMEN, Domestic Sourcing, Made in USA, Manufacturing, SustainabilityAn adult Columbia sheep at the Imperial Ranch in Maupin, Ore. OLIVER JEVREMOV
When Maxine Bedat and Soraya Darabi set out to make a wool sweater entirely in the U.S., their first challenge was finding sheep. Read more
21 Million People Are Trapped in Forced Labor
in Manufacturing, Slave LaborForced labor takes different forms, including debt bondage, trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. The victims are the most vulnerable – women and girls forced into prostitution, migrants trapped in debt bondage, and sweatshop or farm workers kept there by clearly illegal tactics and paid little or nothing. Read more
Forced Labor Generates $150 Billion in Annual Profits
in Slave Labor(ILO News) – Forced labor in the private economy generates US$ 150 billion in illegal profits per year, about three times more than previously estimated, according to a new report from the International Labor Organization (ILO). Read more
Slaves Rescued From Indonesia Island After Forced Labor Investigation
in Consumer Products, Slave LaborAt first the (slaves) men filtered in by twos and threes, hearing whispers of a possible rescue. Read more
Some Pet Sickness Tied to Jerky Treats
in Pet FoodBy John Lovett
Times Record • jlovett@swtimes.com
Jerky treats may be a favored snack for some dogs, but local veterinarians advise pet owners to be aware due to continued reports of sickness and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation. Read more
Economy Picking Up Steam. Most Americans Not Feeling It
in Economy, Jobs, Middles Class, Politics, Public PolicyThe U.S. economy is picking up steam but most Americans aren’t feeling it. By contrast, most European economies are still in bad shape, but most Europeans are doing relatively well.
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WTO Rules Against Country-of-Origin Labeling on Meat in USA
in Consumer Products, Country of Origin (COOL), World Trade Organization (WTO)The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled in favor of Canada and Mexico in an ongoing dispute with the United States over country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on meat. Read more
WTO Attacks Commonsense Country of Origin Labels
in Consumer Products, Country of Origin (COOL), World Trade Organization (WTO)The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that mandatory country of origin labels (COOL) rules for meat and poultry that went into effect in 2013 still ran afoul of the global trade rules. The WTO’s compliance panel decided that the goal of country of origin labels was not trade illegal, but it narrowly found that the implementation of the COOL rules discouraged livestock imports from Canada and Mexico.
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Manufacturing: If You Can Make It Here, Don’t Make It Anywhere Else
in Domestic Sourcing, Economy, Jobs, Made in USA, ManufacturingImage credit: The AutoMotovated Cyclist | Flickr
In a world flooded with cheap imports and overseas production, many people are surprised to hear that some companies still proudly manufacture their products 100% in the United States. One such company is Liberty Tabletop, the only manufacturer of flatware in the United States, located in Sherrill, New York — right in the heart of American manufacturing.
While the “Made in the USA” label was once seen as a nice marketing slogan, today it represents something far more significant. For companies like Liberty Tabletop, manufacturing in America isn’t just about patriotism — it’s a business advantage, a commitment to quality, and a roadmap for a stronger future economy.
As Gen Z steps into the workforce, and as trade schools train the next generation of makers, the conversation around American manufacturing, insourcing, and reshoring has never been more relevant.
Let’s explore why American manufacturing matters more than ever — not just for businesses, but for our economy, environment, workforce, and communities. Read more
Should Labels Say Meat Was Made In USA?
in Consumer Products, Country of Origin (COOL), Made in USA, Manufacturing, World Trade Organization (WTO)You’ve probably seen, but may not have noticed, labels on the meat at your grocery store that say something like “Born, Raised, & Harvested in the U.S.A.” or “Born and Raised in Canada, Slaughtered in the U.S.”
Read moreAs Currency War Erupts, Investors Buy American
in Economy, Exports, Made in USAThe U.S. economy is facing a predicament the Federal Reserve didn’t anticipate — a stronger than expected U.S. dollar. Investors are encouraged to Buy American. Read more
Manufacturers Advise Peers to Open Doors and Minds to Millennials
in Education, Skills GapWith American manufacturing on an upward trajectory, what will it take to sustain its momentum? Karen Norheim, Executive Vice President, American Crane & Equipment Corporation and Tracy Tenpenny, Partner, Tailored Label Products (TLP), believe they have a big part of the answer.
Both Ms. Norheim and Mr. Tenpenny say that attracting Millennial (age 18-32) workers to the industry is critical for maintaining progress. They point to recent research that clearly validates their belief. Read more
Military Will Now Buy 100% American Flags
in Domestic Sourcing, Made in USA, ManufacturingPhoto by Gabrielle Lazaro/Daily Sun staff
Rep. Mike Thompson announced that the U.S. Department of Defense has issued a rule to implement Thompson’s legislative provision requiring every American flag purchased by the Department of Defense to be 100 percent manufactured in the United States. Read more
The Story behind Starbucks Community Tables, Made in the USA
in Made in USA, Manufacturing, ProductionA group of Army Reservists in uniform sit around a community table in a Starbucks near a military base. With coffee cups close, they pour over planning papers. Their attention is focused on the task at hand; unaware the large table they’re using was handmade in the U.S.A. Read more
Butterball to Revive Former Raeford Turkey Plant
in Consumer Products, Jobs, Made in USA, ManufacturingGarner-based Butterball LLC will take over a turkey plant formerly occupied by House of Raeford, bringing hundreds of poultry processing jobs back to Hoke County, officials said Thursday. Read more
US Manufacturing: Return of The ‘Made in America’ Label?
in Made in USANashville, Tennessee, the home of country music, is now becoming known for its car production.
Is American manufacturing undergoing a renaissance? Manufacturing jobs have come back in force, and advanced industries are leading the US recovery, according to the Brookings Institution. Read more
Is America Ready for “Made in the U.S.A.” Clothing?
in Jobs, Made in USA, Manufacturing, Skills GapWhile the reshoring tide is undeniably rising, the prospect of clothing and apparel manufacturing returning to the United States remains uncertain. Back in the 1960s, about 95% of clothing worn in the U.S.A. was also made here. Today the opposite is true. Can we flip the switch again? Read more
Economic Manufacturing Quantities: The Right Amount and the Right Locations
in Economy, Made in USA, Manufacturing, ProductionDoes your manufacturing firm have enough facilities creating the optimum number of products in the right locations? Read more
Made in the USA – Reshoring Children’s Products
in Made in USA, Manufacturing, Production, ReshoringFor all expecting and new parents, you probably have learned how quickly buying your child’s products adds up! So why would you be willing to pay more for an American-made product when you could purchase a similar product or even the “same” product, produced overseas, for half the cost? Read more