The Craftsman versus the Industrial Complex

[DWFII]

I'd like to point out 2 things...

1. I make "cheap kilts" (your words) in this country by my own hand, as well as hire employees, paid a fair wage, to make those same kilts. I use cloth woven in the UK where the workers are paid a fair wage. I have not exploited anyone.

2. If you shop at Walmart, then you are supporting the exploitation you are railing against in these posts. You may not buy $8 shoes at Walmart, but you are supporting their business practices. They are an octopus... you feed one arm of the octopus, you feed the whole octopus.

Point taken....although I don't shop at WalMart regularly or even by choice. I don't shop at Neiman-Marcus regularly either. I don't even know where the nearest one is located. It was a metaphor...a metaphor for establishing and respecting priorities in your life.

But don't take it so personally...I was talking about shoes.

That said, if your product is as "gateway" as you claim it is, it has to be...on some level (if only price)...competing with imports and WalMart level goods. Either you're not paying yourself or your workers a wage that will sustain you through all kinds of business cycles, that will provide you a "living" and grow your business, or you are making up the difference in ways I don't understand and probably don't want to contemplate.

And just because a fabric comes from the UK doesn't make it quality.

I'm not looking to make this a fight...as I said, I was talking about what I know--shoes. But I also have been in business for myself for 40 + years , own my own home free and clear, and have no outstanding debts.

And I still wear 100% Scottish woolen kilts. Oh...and $1500.00 bespoke shoes too.