Factory man
by Beth Macy · first published 2014
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2014–2020first – last mentioned
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Describes how the chairman of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture fought for his more than seven hundred employees in a small Virginia town using legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and his wits and determination in the wake of sales losses to cheap Asian furniture imports.
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The article alludes to, but doesn't expand on, the US's lost lead in furniture manufacturing. For more on this fascinating story, I recommend Beth Macy's "Factory Man" [0], the story of the systematic destruction of the North Carolina and Virginia-based wooden furniture industry by Chinese imports. It's the exact same playbook as Huawei -- govt-backed "dumping" of…
on “Huawei Reveals the Real Trade War with China” ↗In that case it might be worth reading Factory Man, which is a somewhat biography of John D. Bassett III, third generation owner of Bassett furniture. Completely fascinating history of the home furnishings industry and how globalization completely upended…
on “The Epic Rise of John D. Rockefeller” ↗…Him Save Lives In World War Ii' by Vicki Constantine Croke 13. 'Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis As Commander In Chief' by James M. McPherson 14. 'The Empathy Exams: Essays' by Leslie Jamison 15. 'Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local — And Helped Save An American Town' by Beth Macy 16. 'The Fame Lunches: On Wounded Icons, Money, Sex, The Brontës, And The Importance Of Handbags'…
on “Notable Books of 2014” ↗Somewhat related, I read the book "Factory Man" [1] probably five years ago now. It's a story of a guy who came from a big furniture producing family that had several factory towns in Virginia I believe. Anyway, talks about how they got started out…
on “What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it” ↗