Big Take How to Make It in India (Instead of China)
8 snips
Dec 25, 2025 Amitabh Karbanda, Managing Director of Sunlord, shares insights on the booming toy manufacturing scene in India and the challenges of transitioning from China. Alana Waldenberg-Ruffman, VP of Product Development at Learning Resources, discusses how tariffs disrupt sourcing strategies and affect production costs. They delve into the impact on local communities, the need for Indian factories to meet Western standards, and innovative collaborations to enhance capabilities. Both guests explore the shifting landscape of global manufacturing amidst evolving political dynamics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Last-Minute Rush Saves One Shipment
- Amitabh raced to ship a Learning Resources order before U.S. tariffs doubled, pushing his team to run nonstop and ship tens of thousands of pieces.
- A six-hour delay cost the company a 50% tariff and $50,000 in added expense.
Warehouses Full Of Idle Toys
- Vijendra showed Bloomberg vast warehouses full of finished toys pulled off lines after U.S. tariffs paused orders and shipments.
- He estimates up to $20 million of goods stuck and $15 million of new business on hold.
Human Skill Limits Automation Options
- Many toy tasks like tiny braids and plush finishing still require skilled human hands that machines can't replicate well.
- That labor advantage makes low-cost manufacture in India viable while U.S. reshoring is uneconomical without automation.