Posted on 02.26.2021

Made in America, Whenever Possible - Soapbox Jr.

This is going to be a different soapbox for a change, neither political nor really about dad. Consider this a manifesto of sorts. We take this sort of thing seriously in this organization and have for many years.

Before he passed away, dad made a statement which is a powerful one, “If we need it here, MAKE it here.”

This was largely in response to the pandemic and the overreliance on China for important life-saving items, like pharmaceuticals, which the Chinese Communist Party-run media essentially bragged that the CCP could withhold those critical items and destroy the US. It’s an unsettling thought, and brings to mind Nikita Khrushchev from the old Soviet Union banging his shoe at the UN after having previously made a threat against the West in a speech in the Polish Embassy in Moscow saying, “We are on the right side of history. We will bury you!”

In recent years, we have tried to keep CDB merchandise, at least our website merchandise, Made in the USA.

Here is the unfortunate truth.

It’s not always possible.

There are varying reasons why, cost and availability definitely play a factor.

Some people take it very seriously, and I get that, so do we. But some people will gleefully complain about something not being made in the States from their iPhone or computer which is manufactured in China.

It’s unfortunate that some people don’t see the hypocrisy, or just don’t realize where their higher dollar items are manufactured.

If this were a perfect world, we’d make everything in the U.S. possible, and make it affordable for customers, but it’s not that simple

I’m letting you good folks in on a few secrets about the merchandise business here. First of all, the most obvious reason is costs. When we first started trying to focus more on merchandise made in America, we were surprised at how difficult it was to do that.

Just to let you know, all of our shirts and hats are printed or stitched here in the USA by US-based companies, so almost everything we sell is at least partially made in the U.S.

Basic T-shirts made in the U.S. cost a little bit more than others, but we’ve found a pretty good source in a company called Bayside which has a pretty good assortment of basic tees, the price goes up a little bit because they’re USA made, but for a basic tee, they are solid, but there are still some issues.

We did a design for a Charlie Daniels 60 Years of Making Music tee in 2018, and it was a great-looking shirt, it was a dark heather charcoal, and one of the best-looking designs we have had. What I was not informed of was that the great-looking Bayside tees only went up to size 2X. This was a breakdown from the merchandise company and the printer, and somehow it slipped by until I had some tees pulled for the CDB Volunteers Fan Club Family Reunion, and my 3X and 4X designs were a light gray, and not the heather charcoal, and nobody had informed me of the substitutions.

I’ve run into this size problem before, but it’s usually been before printing, so we’ve adjusted the order after finding a suitable replacement, but the bottom line is this, there are a LOT of companies that don’t make larger sizes in USA made tees. 2X is as large as they go, and as I’ve often said, some of dad’s biggest fans are some of his biggest fans, so we need the larger sizes.

We even made a T-shirt that said “If We Need It Here, Make It Here,” our designer/supplier didn’t have the larger sizes in USA made, so our 3X and 4X tees in that style aren’t USA made. I had hoped to be able to figure out a way to keep them 100% USA, but we couldn’t.

Hats/ball caps are probably one of the biggest issues we face with regard to finding American-made blanks. Getting an affordable hat that is made here is pretty much impossible. 

In 2018, we did a series of military-themed hat/baseball cap, and we tried and tried to keep them American made, but the cost on them were astronomical. The hats would have been approximately cost fans over $40 apiece, and we realized that most of our fans were unlikely to pay over $40 for a hat, so we went through company after company to try and find what we were looking for, and the only way we could produce the hats – which also raised money for dad’s charity, The Journey Home Project, was if we went with something other than American made.

These decisions are heartbreaking for a company that wants to support our country and workers, but also has an obligation to keep prices reasonable for our loyal fans.

Women’s shirts are another area where American-made often doesn’t work because of costs. We produced some great-looking women’s tees that were USA-made, but they were probably priced too high for our fans. If we were able to order thousands of tees at a time, we could probably have made it up in price breaks, but we’ve got a fanbase which skews more male than female, so we try to keep our ladies in style as well, but again, American made isn’t easy in this area.

Occasionally we have had collectibles made, and once again, it’s difficult to get custom or specialized collectible items manufactured here.

The bottom line is this, if we can supply our fans with affordable clothing, hats and other collectibles which are made in the USA, we will gladly do so.

If we are unable to for the reasons stated above, only then will we go elsewhere, and we do so begrudgingly.

You have our word.

Dad wouldn’t have had it any other way.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, our police, the peace of Jerusalem and for our nation.

God Bless America!

#BenghaziAintGoingAway

—  Charlie Daniels, Jr.

 

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Check out "Geechi Geechi Ya Ya Blues" from Beau Weevils - 'Songs in the Key of E'

 

 

Comments

MADE IN AMERICA
I can totally understand the dilemma you face when purchasing merchandise. Where I work, we are a global company with our parent company in the Netherlands. Our call centers are located in Jamaica, Japan, Europe, and Tunisia. Our fulfillment centers are in Ireland, Yugoslavia, Mexico, as well as Tennessee. We purchase quite a bit from China that we don't manufacture here. However our namesake products that has been our bread and butter for over 50 years are still molded in Middle Tennessee. Our company was originally a family owned business but had to sell about 15 years ago. We've been purchased 3 times since then. I'm fortunate that I have been retained each time and never have had to apply for unemployment. I hit my 30th year there next June and my plan is to retire at that time at the age of 63. Of course, I'll still need to work part-time, if for nothing else than benefits and health insurance. Its a different world than our parents grew up in and even the one that we grew up in. I love this country, have served in the military, and raised a family that believes in America as much as I do. We are going through tough times indeed right now but to survive, we must bend a little. My hope is that America can regain the status that it once held for good quality items that are competitive price wise with the countries we currently do business with. With the proper leadership and the opening of peoples eyes and minds to the benefits we gain by made in America products, I feel we will again achieve that dream. In the meantime, survival is the name of the game. Mark in Shelbyville
Posted by Mark
Make It Here Period
Amen, Amen & Amen Charlie jr a very insightful article and I can understand the frustration of getting Made in the USA, however I believe that it is worth the effort and many times there is no cost difference. I can tell you that in work boots, Danner, H&H, Thorogood cost very little more than most import that have any quality to them. The crazy part is so many Justin and Tony Lama boots are made outside our country but the price sure doesn't reflect the fact. and because you touched on I phones and computers I can only think the labor cost in minuscule in the equation. . I read somewhere that an Apple representative said they build them in China, not for cheap labor but because there is a shortage of qualified labor in this country. Roundhouse, the only made in USA bib overall is not overly priced.I guess this is what socialistic policies and the dumbing down of our schools has brought us. How sad. But I can tell you that if you are buying a scoop shovel or a new gun I find satisfaction in hunting out the USA label..........nuff said God Bless MADE IN THE USA.....Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
When possible
That is an interesting piece. I salute you for trying. That is the best you can do. Sometimes it just isn't possible. Over 45 years ago, a Chinese immigrant told me that they wanted the top electronic gear and there was no debate that meant US products. That was the gold standard. Price wasn’t his/their objective, quality was. I can’t help wondering how much has changed? Steel was another item we’ve taken a hit on. I thank NAFTA for a lot of it. The issue seems to run in cycles of concern but I have never seen it at the level it is now. ~ NIMOC
Posted by Jeff
If you must...
First, I totally understand that you are caught between two goals and must find a "best solution" for both ends. I think your dad would agree with you. I can't speak for all his fans but I am sure most would agree that if you must buy non - Made in the USA products, then shop with our allies. India has fine cotton and so does Brazil and Egypt . I am sure you know much more than I, but I would think your dad and his fans would be accepting to items coming from any place BUT China.
Posted by Debra
About That Blockage in the Suez Canal
One more reason to buy American. The blockage is fixed now. But I've heard we're going to have a shortage of some things because the shipping through the canal is so slow from of the blockage. Things that are both made here and used here don't need to go through a canal like that. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Responding to Plowboy
"I read somewhere that an Apple representative said they build them in China, not for cheap labor but because there is a shortage of qualified labor in this country." I don't believe that, unless "qualified labor" means willing to put something in your phone to spy on you. Of course we all know that China likes to spy on us. And don't be surprised if Apple wants to spy on us, too. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
"If we use it here, it should be made here."
A lot of the comments that I’ll be making here are little details. Just remember the old saying. “Every little bit adds up.” -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Lots of people these days don’t like plastic straws. And quite a few folks already don’t like plastic grocery bags. If more people were willing to avoid plastic straws and grocery bags, less plastic would be used to make them. And more plastic would be available to make more useful things. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
A lot of people say they won’t buy anything made in China, but for many Americans this is easier said than done. We need to use INNOVATION to HELP people AFFORD things made in America. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
China has been getting rich from cutting corners.
Products made in China are affordable, but low quality. Quality is sacrificed for affordability. High quality products, wherever they’re made, tend to be expensive. But I believe if we’re INNOVATIVE when we manufacture more of our own products, they can be both affordable AND high quality. This is how we outperform China in manufacturing. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
“If we use it here, it should be made here.”
Fundraisers can be held to help people better afford things made in America. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru