West Paw: Manufacturing in the United States is difficult, but we are America

This exciting article depends on the conversation with Spencer Williams, CEO and West Poo, a dog game and a company -based company, Montana. This story was edited for length and clarity.

I was on a chair in 1996 when a well -known businessman in the Bouzman region turned to me and said: “If you do not seek the help of external sources for your manufacture, you will lose your work.” I thought about myself, “Why? Why can’t I know a way to manufacture a better product in the United States?”

I grew up in the countryside of Montana, so the roots of work began with an influence in my original case and with my passion for business and industrialization. I love the idea that at the end of the day, we can say that we helped make something – we have created something.

I thought it would be great to be able to make a product that brings joy and contact with people and their dogs in Montana. It will have an impact on our society by creating job opportunities, and we will be able to make our products in a more sustainable way.

We started with thread games that included the textiles imported from places such as India, South Korea and China. But in the early first decade of the twentieth century, we created the injection casting material called Zogoflex, which now represents 85 % of our sales. These products are made in a full -based in -based supply chain, from raw materials to our production here in Bouzman.

Manufacturing in the United States is difficult

It is extremely difficult to produce local, especially for the goods packed for consumers.

We have to design the product, develop raw materials, buy the template, and import the mechanism, which comes from Austria or Japan. Then we have to train our employees because there are not many injections in our area.

Templates to make games of injection very expensive in the United States. You hardly notice the cost of the template if it is produced in China.

It is difficult without limits to do what we do, and the only way that anyone really wants to do is if the money is not the only goal. If the money is your only goal, only you have to use external sources. It is much easier.

But since West Paw was always moved by the purpose, we reap money, but we also focus on making a positive impact as a social company and an environment competition.

I have nothing to make products in a foreign country, and we sell our products worldwide. But we are following our own vision.

Americans do not buy products just because they are “made in the United States”

I found over the course of my 29 -year career that people do not tend to remain according to the value of “buying the United States of America”. There is a rise and a decline around the national purchase of locally made products.

Although we make it clear that our products are made in the United States, it is really important that we are also creating a better product.

For example, I changed one of our best -selling games, Toppl, has changed the method of games as enrichment or mental and physical wellness for dogs while playing. It is also a slow feeding unit. This innovation is not related to the United States. It is about the wonderful design.

We always tell the story of “Made in the Usa” – we are proud of that – but it should come after we have come to meet health and vitality needs.

We also try to be really clear about the value of durability. When buying a more durable product, your dollar goes further. You don’t have to replace it again and again. To treat our dog, we also focus on making a healthier product.

We do not expect the customer to buy our products because it is better for the planet. It comes to the product and the company that really understands what the consumer needs and its solution to this first and foremost.

Definitions show the positive aspect of the US -based supply chain

The turbulent environment of these definitions has left companies and various retail dealers, and this creates an inexpensive economic environment.

We just sent an email and social media last week mainly said: “Update the tariff: We have nothing.” What we have is stable prices, a stable supply chain, and no tariff.

This is our message to retailers: We do not rely on the government to solve our problems. We are a long -term better partner.

I think West Paw will grow due to the current environment for definitions. We already see this growth. It is due to a strategy that started 29 years ago that will pay profits this year: we will create our own product, we will make it better than anyone else, and we will participate in Montana.

We have chosen a more difficult path, and I am grateful for that.