Hi @patrickbetdavid ,
Last year, you lamented that US companies have shipped their manufacturing abroad, taking advantage of low-cost labor in other countries. This, you suggested, is why we need tariffs.
I happen to know where your shoes are made, as you showed clips of the Tuscan factory in your video. I was surprised to see that you're retailing them for $600. That's a handsome mark-up!
As you may know, many companies offer full-grain leather sneakers made in Tuscany for a fraction of the price. I've attached a screenshot of some from Gustin ($199). These are also made with a stitched-on cup sole, like the ones you're selling. Gustin's prices are uniquely low because of their pre-order business model, which allows them to cut waste. But lots of companies use the same factory as you and charge considerably less than $600.
Curious, why not make the sneakers in the United States? There are many factories still here, such as Opie in North Carolina. They retail their US-made sneakers for $428. Their business model allows third parties to work with them while maintaining a healthy profit margin. Faherty, for instance, made a leather deck shoe with them this season with a stitched-on cup sole. Their retail price is $398 — $30 less than Opie's direct-to-consumer price.
In a 2023 interview with DJ Vlad, you said that you're worth $450 million. That was three years ago, so perhaps you're worth more today. Yet all your merch is made abroad, including in South American countries such as Nicaragua and El Salvador. Even your Tuscan factory is cheaper than a comparable US factory.
On your show, you often lament how greedy executives have screwed American workers, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Would you be interested in moving all of your sneaker production to the United States and charging a fairer price? This will create jobs for US workers and allow consumers to get a fairer value.
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