- Joined
- Apr 5, 1999
- Messages
- 460
Dear Members,
Last year I was asked by one of the Knife Magazines to submit my answers to a list of questions about Manufacturing in America and the trials and tribulations of owning a knife company. Most of what I wrote did not make it into print. Here is what I actually wrote.
Best,
Ernest
----------------------------------------
Dear XXXXXX,
Thank you for the opportunity to be featured in your article. This is a subject Im very passionate about.
1.Im going to be real frank in regard to answering this question. In terms of straight business and the bottom line, there are very few advantages in building a manufacturing operation in America. With all of the State and Federal taxes and the ever increasing regulations that seem to appear on a weekly basis, it is actually tough for a business to remain competitive, especially against companies that do their manufacturing offshore. This is especially true if your business exists in a state and a city that has been noted as the most anti-business in all of the United States 8 years in a row by Inc. Magazine. In other words, dead last out of all 50 states.
Now, having said all of that, I believe that it is worth the effort, the restrictions and the extra burden, because I will do anything for America, including giving my life if I were asked. I believe in America, and I believe that though she may be on the ropes and staggering, she still has good legs under her. If we were to abandon her when she needs our help the most, what would that say about my loyalty, my principles, and my patriotism? Is it moral or ethical if I take Americans hard earned money and then not reinvest it back into her economy, her jobs, and her people? All in the interest of making a higher profit margin on my products? Not by the principles and standards that I live by.
The advantages to making a product in the USA, and I mean 100% made in the USA right down to the screws, is that I know that my business is putting Americans to work, with American wages, who can earn a living in this country. My taxes and my employees taxes go to supporting this country, its military, and its infrastructure, not into the economy of a country that is a potential enemy.
So, with Emerson Knives, we are forced to work harder. We have to manage our business smarter, more efficiently, and more strategically in order to insure a profitable and viable existence in order to stay in business. As you may know, I have never turned away from a challenge or a daunting task. In fact, telling me that I cant do something is a sure way to get me to do it. And do it well. Everything I am and everything I own, I owe to the opportunities afforded to me by this country. A country founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and freedom for its people. I owe everything to this, grand experiment that became the United States of America. I am as deeply rooted in her soul as a 300 year old Virginia Oak. The advantage of having my business here is that I get to pay back just a little of so much that I owe.
2. I think I already covered the disadvantages in the previous section.
3. Our best-selling models are the Commander and what has become the industry standard for tactical knives, the CQC-7.
4. I believe that the future of knife manufacturing in the USA depends on several factors. Number one being the freeing up of the American economy and the free market, or capitalist system. If the health U.S. economy continues to suffer or degrades further, than all US manufacturing will suffer as disposable or discretionary income is reined in by American consumers, tightening their belt. And this situation can be further exacerbated by the pounding that the capitalist market seems to be taking by the so called, intelligentsia. For gosh sakes, the capitalist system has risen more people out of poverty then any, make that all, other systems combined, in the history of man on this earth. Once again, the pendulum can swing both ways. If can reinstate a business and corporate friendly administration and government, the flower of capitalism will once again prosper, bloom and flourish, which would be good for all business, especially those whose products are , Made in America.
If the future for America improves economically then the future will be bright for American Knife Companies. If the economy continues to struggle then it will be harder for American Knife manufacturers to stay in the game. What the industry needs to do, first and foremost is to protect the right of its citizens to keep and Bear Arms. Because, in every instance where gun control or outright banning of gun ownership, knives unfortunately followed suit shortly thereafter. If the product that you make is declared illegal to own then where does that leave a knife company? We must as an industry and as owners, users, and collectors stay ever vigilant in our efforts to protect not only our freedom but our rights as guaranteed by the founding fathers and the U.S. constitution, held by many to be the pre-eminent document of freedom ever written in the history of mankind.
In order to stay viable I believe that the future lies in the industrys ability to design and build knives that the consumer really wants. As you may already perceive I am a big proponent of the one man- one design, method of knife design. The easiest recognizable analogy is in the auto industry. There was a time when car designs were basically the product of a designer- not a team. And you can see it in the classic and timeless designs of the 1960s where it is most dramatically evident. You could recognize a car as being a Ford or Chevy and see in the continuity of the overall design that the car was designed by one person. Starting in the early seventies it became design teams that brought auto designs to the market. And cars were designed by committees rather than an individual who had the vision. And for the last 4 decades, autos became mere copies of each other as those committees tried to follow the trends set by each other.
Merely copying the bestselling design of another company does not mean it was a good design, it just meant that it was the best of a lot of poor designs, on the market. There is a world of difference between being the, Best of the worst and the, Best of the best. The same holds true for all designs that need both form and function to be successful. So, knife companies need to be keenly aware of making knives that the user, the customer, really want and needs and not spend efforts trying to come up with something, New and different, just for the sake of coming up with something, New and different.
Of course, manufacturing quality is always an important factor. And with the historical record of American proficiency in craftsmanship and quality, those standards must be held in the highest regard by the manufacturers because they are also held in the same regard by a consumer buying A Made in America product.
I must add, XXXXXXX, I hope you are vetting all of your, Made in the USA, companies as to this question. Are the knives truly made in America or is that company merely able to put the Made in America label on because a percentage of the parts or labor are American. A thing, anything, is either made in America or it is not. The area is not grey and as a manufacturer if I have to refer to a chart or a regulation to see if my product can qualify to say, Made in America. Then my product is not, Made in America. It either is or it isnt. And American consumers deserve the right to know.
5. Yes, there are certain situations where the knives or other products have to be made in America to be officially purchased via the Berry Amendment of 1994. On the other hand, the U.S. soldier is fiercely loyal and patriotic individual, after all he is willing to sacrifice his life for this country. So being made in the USA is an important factor. Unfortunately many soldiers are not even aware that American knife making companies still exist. So they are not necessarily even aware of USA knife companies. This, and coupled with the meager pay afford to our fighting men by this government means that many knives that most soldiers purchase are lower priced and those low price knives are, as a whole, made overseas. However, that being said, as the consummate professional that the US soldier is, they gradually make the transition to purchasing specific items that will help them do their job easier and more efficiently, and higher quality USA made products are generally on their lists, and that includes knives. Just as a beginning guitar player does not buy a $2000 Gibson Les Paul as his first guitar, as he progresses in skill and experience he becomes aware of the USA made, Gibson Les Paul and certainly ends up wanting one whether he can afford it or not. And if he progresses towards the goal of being a serious musician, he will spend the money eventually for a USA made, Les Paul a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster.
There is a reason that we own the slogan Americas Knife Company, and it is because we represent and truly live out the ideals that are America; Independence, Pride, Honor, Freedom, Toughness, and Dependability. Top that off with a healthy dose of American Exceptionalism and you get a company thats Proud to Be an American.
My Best Regards,
Ernest Emerson
Last year I was asked by one of the Knife Magazines to submit my answers to a list of questions about Manufacturing in America and the trials and tribulations of owning a knife company. Most of what I wrote did not make it into print. Here is what I actually wrote.
Best,
Ernest
----------------------------------------
Dear XXXXXX,
Thank you for the opportunity to be featured in your article. This is a subject Im very passionate about.
1.Im going to be real frank in regard to answering this question. In terms of straight business and the bottom line, there are very few advantages in building a manufacturing operation in America. With all of the State and Federal taxes and the ever increasing regulations that seem to appear on a weekly basis, it is actually tough for a business to remain competitive, especially against companies that do their manufacturing offshore. This is especially true if your business exists in a state and a city that has been noted as the most anti-business in all of the United States 8 years in a row by Inc. Magazine. In other words, dead last out of all 50 states.
Now, having said all of that, I believe that it is worth the effort, the restrictions and the extra burden, because I will do anything for America, including giving my life if I were asked. I believe in America, and I believe that though she may be on the ropes and staggering, she still has good legs under her. If we were to abandon her when she needs our help the most, what would that say about my loyalty, my principles, and my patriotism? Is it moral or ethical if I take Americans hard earned money and then not reinvest it back into her economy, her jobs, and her people? All in the interest of making a higher profit margin on my products? Not by the principles and standards that I live by.
The advantages to making a product in the USA, and I mean 100% made in the USA right down to the screws, is that I know that my business is putting Americans to work, with American wages, who can earn a living in this country. My taxes and my employees taxes go to supporting this country, its military, and its infrastructure, not into the economy of a country that is a potential enemy.
So, with Emerson Knives, we are forced to work harder. We have to manage our business smarter, more efficiently, and more strategically in order to insure a profitable and viable existence in order to stay in business. As you may know, I have never turned away from a challenge or a daunting task. In fact, telling me that I cant do something is a sure way to get me to do it. And do it well. Everything I am and everything I own, I owe to the opportunities afforded to me by this country. A country founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and freedom for its people. I owe everything to this, grand experiment that became the United States of America. I am as deeply rooted in her soul as a 300 year old Virginia Oak. The advantage of having my business here is that I get to pay back just a little of so much that I owe.
2. I think I already covered the disadvantages in the previous section.
3. Our best-selling models are the Commander and what has become the industry standard for tactical knives, the CQC-7.
4. I believe that the future of knife manufacturing in the USA depends on several factors. Number one being the freeing up of the American economy and the free market, or capitalist system. If the health U.S. economy continues to suffer or degrades further, than all US manufacturing will suffer as disposable or discretionary income is reined in by American consumers, tightening their belt. And this situation can be further exacerbated by the pounding that the capitalist market seems to be taking by the so called, intelligentsia. For gosh sakes, the capitalist system has risen more people out of poverty then any, make that all, other systems combined, in the history of man on this earth. Once again, the pendulum can swing both ways. If can reinstate a business and corporate friendly administration and government, the flower of capitalism will once again prosper, bloom and flourish, which would be good for all business, especially those whose products are , Made in America.
If the future for America improves economically then the future will be bright for American Knife Companies. If the economy continues to struggle then it will be harder for American Knife manufacturers to stay in the game. What the industry needs to do, first and foremost is to protect the right of its citizens to keep and Bear Arms. Because, in every instance where gun control or outright banning of gun ownership, knives unfortunately followed suit shortly thereafter. If the product that you make is declared illegal to own then where does that leave a knife company? We must as an industry and as owners, users, and collectors stay ever vigilant in our efforts to protect not only our freedom but our rights as guaranteed by the founding fathers and the U.S. constitution, held by many to be the pre-eminent document of freedom ever written in the history of mankind.
In order to stay viable I believe that the future lies in the industrys ability to design and build knives that the consumer really wants. As you may already perceive I am a big proponent of the one man- one design, method of knife design. The easiest recognizable analogy is in the auto industry. There was a time when car designs were basically the product of a designer- not a team. And you can see it in the classic and timeless designs of the 1960s where it is most dramatically evident. You could recognize a car as being a Ford or Chevy and see in the continuity of the overall design that the car was designed by one person. Starting in the early seventies it became design teams that brought auto designs to the market. And cars were designed by committees rather than an individual who had the vision. And for the last 4 decades, autos became mere copies of each other as those committees tried to follow the trends set by each other.
Merely copying the bestselling design of another company does not mean it was a good design, it just meant that it was the best of a lot of poor designs, on the market. There is a world of difference between being the, Best of the worst and the, Best of the best. The same holds true for all designs that need both form and function to be successful. So, knife companies need to be keenly aware of making knives that the user, the customer, really want and needs and not spend efforts trying to come up with something, New and different, just for the sake of coming up with something, New and different.
Of course, manufacturing quality is always an important factor. And with the historical record of American proficiency in craftsmanship and quality, those standards must be held in the highest regard by the manufacturers because they are also held in the same regard by a consumer buying A Made in America product.
I must add, XXXXXXX, I hope you are vetting all of your, Made in the USA, companies as to this question. Are the knives truly made in America or is that company merely able to put the Made in America label on because a percentage of the parts or labor are American. A thing, anything, is either made in America or it is not. The area is not grey and as a manufacturer if I have to refer to a chart or a regulation to see if my product can qualify to say, Made in America. Then my product is not, Made in America. It either is or it isnt. And American consumers deserve the right to know.
5. Yes, there are certain situations where the knives or other products have to be made in America to be officially purchased via the Berry Amendment of 1994. On the other hand, the U.S. soldier is fiercely loyal and patriotic individual, after all he is willing to sacrifice his life for this country. So being made in the USA is an important factor. Unfortunately many soldiers are not even aware that American knife making companies still exist. So they are not necessarily even aware of USA knife companies. This, and coupled with the meager pay afford to our fighting men by this government means that many knives that most soldiers purchase are lower priced and those low price knives are, as a whole, made overseas. However, that being said, as the consummate professional that the US soldier is, they gradually make the transition to purchasing specific items that will help them do their job easier and more efficiently, and higher quality USA made products are generally on their lists, and that includes knives. Just as a beginning guitar player does not buy a $2000 Gibson Les Paul as his first guitar, as he progresses in skill and experience he becomes aware of the USA made, Gibson Les Paul and certainly ends up wanting one whether he can afford it or not. And if he progresses towards the goal of being a serious musician, he will spend the money eventually for a USA made, Les Paul a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster.
There is a reason that we own the slogan Americas Knife Company, and it is because we represent and truly live out the ideals that are America; Independence, Pride, Honor, Freedom, Toughness, and Dependability. Top that off with a healthy dose of American Exceptionalism and you get a company thats Proud to Be an American.
My Best Regards,
Ernest Emerson
