JOSH SMITH | Breaking Foreign Supply Chains Through American-Made
Dec 10, 2024
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Josh Smith, founder of Montana Knife Company and the youngest master bladesmith, discusses the challenges facing American manufacturing in the wake of the COVID-19 supply chain crisis. He highlights the importance of local businesses and the ethical responsibilities of craftsmanship. The conversation delves into knife-making inspirations from military designs, the importance of authenticity in public life, and the implications of tariffs on local economies. Smith passionately advocates for reclaiming American jobs by building a community around quality, American-made products.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in foreign supply chains, prompting a reevaluation of the impacts of importing cheap goods from adversarial countries.
Josh Smith's Montana Knife Company exemplifies the challenges and rewards of building American-made brands, highlighting the need for resilience and quality in domestic manufacturing.
The podcast underscores the importance of conscious consumerism by encouraging support for American-made products, which contributes to local economies and ethical production practices.
Deep dives
The Shift in American Manufacturing
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities of the foreign supply chain, prompting many to reconsider the implications of importing inexpensive goods from overseas, particularly from adversarial nations. Over the past century, the U.S. has seen a closure of manufacturing facilities with a significant loss of American jobs exported abroad. New potential tariffs may contribute to rising prices for everyday items, putting further strain on consumers. This situation has invigorated efforts by entrepreneurs like Josh Smith, who is dedicated to creating American-made products and reviving domestic manufacturing in Frenchtown, Montana.
Challenges of American-Made Businesses
Starting and growing an American-made company presents various challenges that entrepreneurs face, including competition from established foreign brands and the expectation to deliver high-quality products at competitive prices. Many new business owners often encounter skepticism and pushback from competitors, emphasizing that growth in such industries is rarely linear and genuine success takes time. The path to establishing a reliable, reputable brand is often murky, with no shortcuts or instant solutions. However, individuals like Josh Smith demonstrate that with determination, resilience, and a commitment to quality, it is possible to thrive.
Cultural Values and Masculinity
The podcast emphasizes the importance of personal resilience, determination, and strength as critical components of masculinity in today’s society. It encourages men to embrace challenges, act decisively, and learn from failures to become better individuals. The notion is that true success is achieved when one lives life fully and boldly, without succumbing to fear or distraction. This reaffirmation of traditional values aims to inspire personal growth and a collective reclamation of masculinity in communities across the nation.
The Value of American Products
Support for companies producing goods in the U.S., like Montana Knife Company, is highlighted as a way to ensure quality and ethical production practices. Consumers are encouraged to consider the story behind their purchases, recognizing that buying American-made products can have a meaningful impact on local economies and community well-being. By investing in domestically produced goods, individuals contribute to the job creation and sustainability of American manufacturers. The notion of 'voting with your wallet' underscores the importance of conscious consumer choices that prioritize American craftsmanship.
Navigating Political Stances in Business
The discussion includes navigating personal and political beliefs in the context of running a business, especially during politically charged times. Business owners may hesitate to share their opinions due to concerns over alienating customers, yet the value of authenticity and transparency is deemed essential. Engaging in political discourse can foster deeper connections with consumers who align with those values, as well as respectful dialogues with those who may disagree. This approach underscores a commitment to individual beliefs while recognizing diverse perspectives within the customer base.
It’s no secret that, during COVID, we began to see how bad the foreign supply chain crisis was. That woke a lot of people up to the reality of importing cheap products from overseas, adversarial countries. But we’ve spent the last century closing American manufacturing facilities and exporting our American jobs overseas. With new potential tariffs (which I believe are more of an economic bargaining tool to Trump), we again are starring down the barrel of high prices for everyday goods.
That’s part of the reason, I love what Josh Smith, Founder of Montana Knife Company is doing in a small town called Frenchtown in Montana. He’s putting Americans to work building American products – specifically, hunting, tactical, and culinary knives. Today we talk about the challenges with starting American-Made companies, what you’re likely to hear from competitors when you do, why growth isn’t always so linear and there are no overnight successes, why foreign markets are unfair business partnerships, and learning to build a business from the ground up – literally.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: (00:00) Building Relationships and Hunting Stories (11:08) Knife Making and Hunting Stories (15:37) Special Forces Knife Design Inspiration (21:43) Examining Veteran Stories and Critique (27:48) Balancing Public Image and Personal Life (35:50) Knife Making Ethics and Production (45:58) American Manufacturing, Tariffs, and Government Spending (59:17) Building American Manufacturing and Relationships