Should I make it in the USA? [live]

07/05/18 • 56 min

Four experts explore the dilemma of where to do your manufacturing. It’s is an important question to ask yourself when you are launching a company, and most people assume they need to go to China or elsewhere overseas. We’ve heard a lot about Made in America and retaining manufacturing jobs over the years. But is locally-made just a nice thing to talk about? Or are there times when it makes better business sense to make it here?

We speak with Michael Corr, CEO of Durolabs, formerly head of engineering at several hardware startups in the US and China; Sean Scott, CEO of COMUNITY, formerly of VANS, ASICS, Nike, and TOMS; Clarissa Redwine who heads up Kickstarter’s hardware community on the West coast; and Jaleh Factor, who brings her accounting background to her role as founder and CEO of Sourcing Theory, an apparel factory in DTLA. The conversation was recorded live at the LA Cleantech Incubator, at an event co-hosted by MAKE IT IN LA, ArtCenter College of Design, Supplyframe, Kickstarter, and Califia Farms.

I was curious how to model your expenses, how to assess the risks, and how to consider the hidden costs of manufacturing overseas. We discuss the ethical and sustainability considerations, which aren’t as simple as they seem. We talk about how to find your suppliers. And we hear some horror stories from the trenches.

This episode is not meant as a sales pitch for local manufacturing. Every company needs to do what’s right for their business. But, as I suspected, the decision isn’t as obvious as people make it out to be. This week’s guests give some surprising answers.

Links mentioned:

Cost calculator: Reshorenow.org

Tyranny of Small Decisions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyranny_of_small_decisions

Episode with Jesse Genet of Lumi: http://makeitinla.org/jessegenet

Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck: http://amazon.com/dp/0143039431

Nomiku - sous vide cooker: https://www.nomiku.com/

Turntouch - wooden remote: https://shop.turntouch.com

Wood Thumb – woodworking makerspace: https://woodthumb.com/

PODO Labs – the first stick and shoot camera: https://podolabs.com/

Sourcing Theory: https://www.sourcingtheory.com/

Kickstarter: http://kickstarter.com

Durolabs: https://www.durolabs.co/

COMUNITY: http://comunitymade.com

For more information, bios, and links, check out the show notes at http://makeitinla.org/podcast/makeUSA.

Links mentioned:

Cost calculator: Reshorenow.org

Tyranny of Small Decisions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyranny_of_small_decisions

Episode with Jesse Genet of Lumi: http://makeitinla.org/jessegenet

Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck: http://amazon.com/dp/0143039431

Nomiku - sous vide cooker: https://www.nomiku.com/

Turntouch - wooden remote: https://shop.turntouch.com

Wood Thumb – woodworking makerspace: https://woodthumb.com/

PODO Labs – the first stick and shoot camera: https://podolabs.com/

Sourcing Theory: https://www.sourcingtheory.com/

Kickstarter: http://kickstarter.com

Durolabs: https://www.durolabs.co/

COMUNITY: http://comunitymade.com

For more information, bios, and links, check out the show notes at http://makeitinla.org/podcast/makeUSA.

Previous Episode

Meredith Perry: uBeam

Pioneering wireless power: a rare interview from the charismatic and controversial founder of an L.A.-based startup that everyone thought would fail.

Meredith Perry founded uBeam back in 2011. Mark Cuban invested in the company and called it the next zillion-dollar idea. In 2015 Fortune called her “brilliant” and asked if she might be the next Elon Musk. But less than a year later, a key employee left the company in 2016 and skepticism grew about her company’s ability to deliver on its technical milestones. One can understand why Meredith isn’t keen on speaking with the media. For six years, her team has been quietly plugging away at the technology, and she’s only made herself visible again recently, to demo the technology actually working.

A couple of months ago, while she was wrapping up a $20 million raise, I came to her office bearing margaritas. I was hoping to get her to speak candidly about her journey—and she did.

I have to admit, I’ve been skeptical about the technology myself, so I was curious to learn how it works and the challenges she’s faced along the way. I wanted to learn what it’s been like to bounce back from her PR nightmare, and she humbly shares some of her lessons learned as a brainy young CEO managing a team for the first time in a high-stakes environment. We talk about geek chic, astrobiology, the no a-hole rule, and the struggles of trying to do something no one thinks is possible.

For more information, photos, and links, check out the show notes at http://makeitinla.org/meredithperry.

Next Episode

Micki Krimmel: Superfit Hero

Roller derby inspires a body-positive athletic fashion brand that’s just hitting a tipping point. Though finding a factory that will take her business has gotten easier, the real challenges have just begun!

Micki Krimmel is the founder of an emerging apparel brand called Superfit Hero. She has some serious startup chops, but if you had told her she’d have anything to do with athletics, fashion, or business a decade ago she would have laughed. She grew up a drama nerd who never did sports until she discovered roller derby. And then her whole life changed. I’ve gotten to know Micki’s new company, Superfit Hero, since she joined MAKE IT IN LA’s Catalyst program, which is building a diverse community of creatives that manufacture in LA.

It’s so hard to differentiate an apparel brand these days, but she’s doing it by being at the forefront of the new body positive movement. It’s exciting to watch Superfit Hero hit an inflection point. Her business is just taking off. But... ironically, her challenges are just beginning.

Links:

Superfit Hero website: http://superfithero.com

Social: @superfithero @mickipedia

For more information, bios, and links, check out the show notes at http://makeitinla.org/mickikrimmel.

About Micki Krimmel

Micki Krimmel is a serial entreprenuer, athlete, and loud-mouthed feminist. Micki was inspired by her experience as a competitive roller derby player to create Superfit Hero, a body positive, size inclusive fitness brand with a mission to empower women.

Micki has 15 years experience with technology and entertainment startups. Superfit Hero marks her first foray into manufacturing. With no fashion background, Micki was able to deliver a stellar fashion product by following the principles of customer discovery championed by the tech industry. With a tested and approved product sample, Micki funded her initial production with the help of her roller derby community via Kickstarter. Two and a half years later, Superfit Hero has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, SHAPE, and many other publications. Micki's goal is to establish Superfit Hero as the go-to brand for the body positive fitness movement.

In her spare time, Micki enjoys lifting weights and riding motorcycles. Her newest hobby is wrenching on her 2004 KTM dirtbike.