Opportunities and challenges for Minnesota sewn product manufacturers

Purpose: This study aims to explore domestic sewn product manufacturing in Minnesota. There is a renewed interest from consumers in products Made in America, thus some manufactures are taking advantage of the opportunities to produce locally. Design/methodology/approach: Fourteen companies from across the state that ranged in size and product type were interviewed about the motivations, opportunities and challenges they experience with domestic manufacturing. A content analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Findings: The themes of personal values and economics emerged under motivations; the local economy, control and uniqueness were revealed as opportunities; and challenges included the themes of manufacturing resources and costs. Originality/value: This group of Minnesota manufacturers holds strong values that drive them to balance the opportunities and challenges of domestic manufacturing. There is no evidence to determine if sustainability is a concern or a motivating factor.