Ben Napier, who stars in HGTV's "Home Town" alongside his wife Erin, dreamed of opening his own factory since childhood. Now he’s opened a factory to make butcher blocks, creating the family-supporting manufacturing jobs that he hopes will be his legacy. Listen in for Ben’s plan for the Scotsman Manufacturing Company factory — and how the 1995 movie “Tommy Boy” inspired it. 

Check out our past interviews with Ben: https://soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/hgtvs-ben-napier-shares-the-view-from-americas-favorite-small-town; soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/why-the-stars-of-hgtvs-home-town-keep-it-made-in-america

Photo courtesy of Scotsman Manufacturing Company

HGTV’s Ben Napier Just Opened a Factory in His Home Town, Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

The Commerce Department is investigating whether Chinese companies are routing solar panels through other countries to avoid U.S. duties. But this relatively routine trade case has erupted into a firestorm, with a special interest group undertaking a highly-organized and well-funded media campaign to cancel it. Much of their ire has been directed at Auxin Solar Inc., the California solar panel maker that filed the original petition. Auxin CEO Mamun Rashid joins The Manufacturing Report to explain why he's seeing this fight through — and why policymakers need to support American manufacturers like this company.

Made in USA Solar Panel Maker Auxin is Risking It All to Take a Stand Against China. Here’s Why.

When the briefcase Morgan Beals designed was awarded Best Student-Made Handbag at the International Handbag Designer Awards in 2014, her career kicked into overdrive. But, in 2015, she decided to set her own course and launched Morgan Rhea, her own Made in America luxury leather accessories studio. Listen in for how a student contest design has blossomed into a thriving business in South Charleston, W.V.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Rhea

Quality Is Worth the Wait for This West Virginia Leather Accessories Company

U.S. trade policy was ruled for decades by the concept that free trade was always the answer — a fallacy that led to the loss of millions of American manufacturing jobs. Former United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer fundamentally changed that and ushered in policy that put American workers first. He joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "No Trade Is Free: Changing Course, Taking on China, and Helping America's Workers", and what the future holds for U.S. trade relations.

Former USTR Robert Lighthizer on U.S. Trade Policy's Radical Reset

Kristen Fanarakis was deeply entrenched in the world of finance when she made the radical decision to buck the offshoring, race-to-the-bottom trend in 2017 and start her Made in Los Angeles luxury apparel brand, Senza Tempo. Fanarakis shares why she's committed to American manufacturing and the policies that best support Made in America brands. 

Photo courtesy of Kristen Fanarakis

It's Not Innovation That Has Kept Apparel Prices Down, It's Exploitation

Direct-to-consumer mattress pioneer BedInABox got its start in 2004 by establishing a radically new way to sell mattresses. Since then, the industry has been swarmed with competitors, and the same shipping method that BedInABox innovated has been exploited by copycat importers. But BedInABox has leveraged its Mount Airy, N.C., production to differentiate itself from the pack. Chris Bradley, Executive Vice President of Consumer Products at NCFI Polyurethanes, discusses BedInABox’s strategy and how it’s contending with pressures from dumped imports.

Photo courtesy of BedInABox

BedInABox Saw Mattress Copycats Flood the Market, But It’s Holding Firm on Made in USA

Shinola Chief Operating Officer Bailey Mattacola breaks down how the Detroit-born company tackled the challenge of building watches in America again and then expanded to manufacturing bags, apparel, jewelry and so much more. Mattacola also dives into how Shinola is reclaiming high-quality American manufacturing and how customers respond to the “Detroit differentiator.” 

Photo courtesy of Shinola

Shinola Celebrates 10 Years Since Building Its First Watch in Detroit

Two father-and-son teams found a hole in the market for toys that bridged the gap between blocks and Lego. They knew they wanted to make it in America. The problem? They had zero manufacturing experience. A successful Kickstarter campaign and nearly 10 years later, Luke’s Toy Factory is thriving. Here’s how they did it. 

Photo courtesy of Luke's Toy Factory

Luke's Toy Factory Fills the Gap for American-made, Educational, Sustainable Toys

Manufacturing is having a moment. But what will it actually take to create more blue-collar jobs and strengthen our industrial base? Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul chats with policymakers, manufacturing experts and factory workers to find out.

Made in USA Solar Panel Maker Auxin is Risking It All to Take a Stand Against China. Here’s Why.

The Manufacturing Report

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