"The Made in America Movement" movie is a sobering reminder as we debate this election season on the economy that most of what we consume in this country originated in another country. Simply put, we are consuming ourselves into oblivion. July 20th, 2012, I was asked to leave the company I was working for, and I was really at a crossroads about what I wanted to do. There were a few job offers on the table, and as I went through the interview process, I realized I did not want to put my ability to make a living in someone else's hands again.
The company I left sells a product 100 percent manufactured in China. I did not want to go back into another job where no matter how great it was, how much money I was going to make, I would be taking food off the table of American families.
As I am about to open the doors of the Nest Bedding store in Albany, Ca, I don't know if I can properly convey to the world just how much time, effort and thought went into starting this company. And in the face of all these challenges, the toughest has been finding American made products that are affordable to sell in my store. I am proud to partner with good American companies, like Bed In A Box, who manufacture exclusively in the USA.
Every bed I sell is one less from a Chinese factory. Don't get me wrong, I think it’s great that Chinese people are making nice beds. But let them keep those mattresses in China, and let American workers earn a living. Now, it shouldn't mean we have to overspend or compromise on quality. In fact, it might take a little effort, but it is my professional opinion that comparing the Bed In A Box brand to a Chinese produced mattress, you will find the Bed In A Box to perform consistently better, due to manufacturing expertise, experience and design. It took a lot of work, but in the end, I am proud of the products we will be carrying at the Nest Bedding stores.
There are some really great brands out in our marketplace who are not made in China. In the San Francisco Bay Area, they are The Natural Mattress Store, European Sleep Works, EarthSake, Nest Bedding. Make sure you ask about where the products originate when looking to purchase new bedding.
(originally posted July 20th, 2012)