Posted on 07/28/2011 11:07:57 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The last major athletic shoe brand manufacturing in the United States is watching closely as the Obama administration negotiates a free-trade agreement with Vietnam and seven other countries, and it is unclear whether the company can stand up to a flood of shoes from overseas.
NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine At the factory here owned by New Balance, the last major athletic shoe brand to manufacture footwear in the United States, even workers on the shop floor recognize that in purely economic terms, the operation doesnt make sense.
The company could make far more money if, like Nike and Adidas, it shifted virtually all of these jobs to low-wage countries.
So employees try working each shift to make it up. Conversations on the shop floor are sparse at best, and the tasks at each work station have been stripped of waste and precisely timed. Workers cut leather for a pair of shoes in 88 seconds, handle precise stitching in 37 seconds and glue soles to uppers even faster.
The company already could make more money by going overseas, and they know it, said Scott Boulette, 35, a burly team leader who has his sons name tattooed in Gothic letters down his left forearm. So we hustle.
Now, however, comes what may be an insurmountable challenge. The Obama administration is negotiating a free-trade agreement with Vietnam and seven other countries, and it is unclear whether the plant can stand up to a flood of shoes from that country, already one of the leading exporters of footwear to the United States.
We are deeply concerned by the inclusion of Vietnam in a potential free-trade agreement, said Rob DeMartini, president and chief executive of New Balance.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
That’s what a lot of people don’t understand, the durability. A pair of NB can last you years (at least mine do anyway) while these cheapo sneakers people buy from Pay less may last a couple months. So in the end they may think they are saving money by buying commie, but they are not as the may go thru 3 or 4 pairs in the time it takes to wear down one NB.
Wow, everyone in my family loves them and many of my friends, too. Nice for running and casual wear.
Glad I don’t think they are ugly and outdated. I had no idea they were the only US manufactured shoe and likely a non-union shop—I will be buying them exclusively from now on.
They are great shoes.... I am needing a new pair!
I’m going to make it a point to buy some shoes from this company in the very near future!
I need to buy a couple more pairs of 998’s. I get a couple years of daily wear from a pair. The 10EE with no arch fits my flat feet just fine.
Here come the socialist know nothings again.
I swear some of these socialist should post on DU.
Trade/Free trade has been the greatest boon to the US economy. It has greatly contributed to making us the richest most powerfull civilization in human history.
Goverment regulations upon regulation,ever rising taxes,and generally the treatment of business by Government as an enemy combatant is what is ruining our Economy.
Making shoes is worth 69 center/hr.
If a company like NB wants to pay higher than market wages that is their prerogative.
Those are not the jobs that should be the goal.
High value added jobs will be the only ones that will pay high wages in the end.
We can’t keep bombing Germany and Japan so medium-skilled workers can have outrageously high wages and bomb China,Africa, and Latin America into the stone age so low-skilled workers can have good paying jobs.
Closing our economy to the outside world will give even great power to Unions and Government and lead us down the road to North Korean standards of living.
Some ignorants simply can’t learn from history.
Reality says our unemployment is what percent? I really like the part of 'free trade' that invited the world's cheap low end wage earners to come here so we could fund their health care and education costs. I get it that the idea of 'free trade' was to step outside of the unions constriction, but that is not what has happened.
Exactly what is 'free' about these 'free-trade' deals? IF 'free-trade was to create the utopia you describe it to be then why are we where we are now in debt and rotting from within. IT sure is not a lack of businesses moving jobs outside our borders.
I mentioned that my black NBs are the only shoes I wear - - I mean that literally. They’re black, so I even wear them with my “business casual” for my business appointments. They look fine. I would say that I go through a pair per year, roughly. And it’s never the soles that go, it’s always the front or left side of the toe area on one shoe or the other. Even then I live with it until they start flapping. I have three years worth (ie., three pairs) of these identical sneakers already in reserve.
And if NB moves to Vietnam or wherever, I will immediately go from Kohls to Kohls, stocking up for life.
By the way, my wife thinks I look silly wearing black sneakers with shorts.
But oh well. That’s my style. Maybe it’ll catch on because I’m such a cool old guy.
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
FRegards,
LH
I just always wear them because they make shoes in extra widths and the shoes last a long time.
Some jobs are lost to trade.
Some jobs should be lost because they are inefficient.
We gain some jobs because we do that particular product better than the rest.
It is called capitalism.
Horrible deficits? Government spending too much.
Lack of job skills? Union run education and voters that tolerate it.
Boeing wants to move to a friendly business climate in South Carolina and away from Marxist Washington? NLRB here to bully Boeing.
It is really easy to blame “free trade” and “foreigners” but in the end it gets you no where.
Our problems are home grown started with the Anti-business practices in DC.
The evidence that trade greatly helps our economy is so overwhelming even many Democrats support it. I guess many do it because they think they are supporting third world countries instead of American Business.
All the same, it is good for our economy.
And with all our problems still the highest standard of living of large countries.
Luxembourg or some tiny country like that is more comparable to Orange County.
What I say is true in this world.
Capitalist are not in charge. They were not in Charge when they developed TARP. And that is a large part of the problem.
The cure to quasi-socialism is not pure socialism.
It will just make things worse.
Capitilist and all liberty loving Americans need to fight the good fight in every area of life and not just give in.
If giving up is what you want to do might as well become an Islamic socialist and preach about “social justice.”
Uh, I have said nothing about giving up. But the Islamic socialist are not in the big business of preaching 'social justice'. That falls under the majority of mainstream American religions right now.... Remember 'compassionate conservatism'?
What is strange is that Nike charges the same amount for shoes made in S. E Asia — they make a hefty profit.
How can you expect anyone to pay 30-100% more for a product just because it is made here? Why are we responsible for supporting what amounts to inefficiencies in the manufacture process?
All issues of quality being equal it all comes down to two things, government regs and Unions. Labor is a huge part of the mfg process and if it can be done overseas and it results in a product similar in every way but at half the price as one made here then I’m for it and will buy it in a flash.
If you want to subsidize inefficiency that’s fine if you can afford it, but I intend to get the best value for the dollars I have and currently that is not buying over priced American made goods. Nor does it include buying at the little corner store where I get the privilege of paying 15-25% more because the guy behind the counter knows my name.
I never knew! And they sound like well-made shoes, too.
I’ll be ordering my first pairs of New Balance shoes TODAY, as well as for my children and wife.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a good “discount” online outfit that ships by US mail?
Good NB store out of San Diego, CA:
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/brand/New_Balance/
Not sure if they will ship USPS, but give them a call to find out!
Also, “Big 5” usually has NB at “close-out” prices...any Big 5’s near you?
http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/
I am a big New Balance fan...current pair of walking/hiking style have lasted and lasted and lasted!! They fit my wider feet better than Nike or others.
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