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 doesn’t 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 son’s 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 ...
Free Traitors always want to send jobs from freedom-supporting countries to disgusting dictatorships...
...if they can make a buck on it!
I wish I could afford 150.00 walking shoes.
Just went out and bought me a pair of New Balance. Great shoes!
Just hold on until 2012 and we’ll level the playing field!
That picture is the shoe that I buy and wear. Nothing but NB..because they are US made. Grey. The other shoe that I wear is SAS..made in Texas.
I have two pairs of New Balance shoes, bought last year. Cost was $69 each pair. That’s reasonable.
These fair trade agreements always generate the opposite of their stated intent. Sorta like everything else liberals do. Sadly, even Republicans seem to like these agreements. Hasn’t anyone figured out these agreements don’t work.
From now on I’ll be purchasing either NB or SAS...unless we need a new pair of western boots.
I am wearing a pair of black New Balance sneakers right now, and I have three, count ‘em three, more identical pairs (11 wide) still in their boxes up in my closet. Every time I go to Kohl’s I pick up another pair or two if they have my size. They’re not particularly expensive, what, $50 a pair or something? Whatever, they are worth it to me. I wear no other shoes. The comfort and durability is astonishing. I love ‘em.
I bought many NB shoes in the past. Now I just racewalk and my shoes are custom-made (Hersey Custom Running Shoes). However, most recent shorts and singlet are NB from factory store in Queenstown MD.
Actually, they are ugly, outdated shoes.
Deal with it, New Balance.
It’s the only brand of shoe of this type I have bought in 6 years. Fit better than the others too! xxw in just about all styles.
FReeper shoes!
.
I’m with you brother. SAS are the most comfortable, longest lasting shoes I’ve ever worn.
(And has been for almost 30 years.)
I always wear NB, either bought locally or the L.L. Bean catalog usually has them listed.
I had not worn this latest pair more than a couple of days and my feet were killing me. I don't know if I got a bad pair or if New Balance has cost reduced these shoes (and offers the previous support for an extra charge). As much as I have liked New Balance in the past, I may rethink them in the future.
I buy New Balance at $29.99 to $39.99 all the time. I have about 10 pairs now. Love them.
Everything is free-traded, even the office of the President. We got a guy from Kenya.
I like New Balance shoes for walking. As I wear them out for walking I use them for working outside in the yard. Even have an old pair I used for mixing and placing concrete last year. ;o)
I usually get some type of gray color combo. They appear cleaner longer, compared to sneaks with white soles. Also much more comfortable in my opinion. You can always depend on their quality and long wear.
So, only NB for me.
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