Totally agree. You might also remember WalMart once upon a time
branded themselves as 100% “buy American” – American Furniture started out
the same way, and as Jake Jabbs put it, the market determined their price
points. I think it's easy to let your brand values shift as more people
jump on board… what they shift to is determined by the people who you
serve (or refuse to serve).

Glad to be officially “part of the minority”

-Nick

Totally agree. You might also remember WalMart once upon a time
branded themselves as 100% “buy American” – American Furniture started out
the same way, and as Jake Jabbs put it, the market determined their price
points. I think it's easy to let your brand values shift as more people
jump on board… what they shift to is determined by the people who you
serve (or refuse to serve).

Glad to be officially “part of the minority”

-Nick

American owned, foreign-made? Aside from the sheep-like mentality of some members of the audience… trying to give the branding the benefit of the doubt.

American owned, foreign-made? Aside from the sheep-like mentality of some members of the audience… trying to give the branding the benefit of the doubt.

1. I find your question legitimate. How the company chooses to answer it is their business. It's a good question that strikes to the heart of brand and identity management.
2. That anyone would judge you for asking a question like this is ridiculous.
3. Yes. Sheep are the majority. No one in that audience will probably ever be a successful entrepreneur. Franchisees, perhaps, successful maybe, but not entrepreneurs. That sense of isolation you feel is normal. Get used to it. Most people are perfectly content to spend their lives never asking difficult or uncomfortable questions. Those who dare to question, even when it is unpopular to do so tend to give us things like electricity, automobiles, television, the internet, iphones, smart fabrics and vaccines.

Welcome to the minority, Nick. You're in good company.

1. I find your question legitimate. How the company chooses to answer it is their business. It's a good question that strikes to the heart of brand and identity management.
2. That anyone would judge you for asking a question like this is ridiculous.
3. Yes. Sheep are the majority. No one in that audience will probably ever be a successful entrepreneur. Franchisees, perhaps, successful maybe, but not entrepreneurs. That sense of isolation you feel is normal. Get used to it. Most people are perfectly content to spend their lives never asking difficult or uncomfortable questions. Those who dare to question, even when it is unpopular to do so tend to give us things like electricity, automobiles, television, the internet, iphones, smart fabrics and vaccines.

Welcome to the minority, Nick. You're in good company.

As I mentioned earlier, I can't fault him for identifying the needs of
his market. The better response would have been, “Well, because our
customers are largely bargain shoppers, we can't do that. But here's XYZ
Company that does.”

It's largely an issue about brand awareness and how businesses should
act and brand themselves… and when you promise American-made furniture,
you'd better deliver or show me who can

-Nick

As I mentioned earlier, I can't fault him for identifying the needs of
his market. The better response would have been, “Well, because our
customers are largely bargain shoppers, we can't do that. But here's XYZ
Company that does.”

It's largely an issue about brand awareness and how businesses should
act and brand themselves… and when you promise American-made furniture,
you'd better deliver or show me who can

-Nick