Make it or Break it: Texas Company Wants 'Made in USA' Products

Jan. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Hempstead, TX – It’s coming down to do or die at Crazy K Farm.  The 35-acre farm located just outside of Houston has weathered all kinds of storms; real and manmade.  Economic struggles, job loss, and hardship have all been faced with the same care as daily tending to the farm’s 200+ rescued residents.  Through all of its many ups and downs, this time, cotton of all things is forcing a change at the Hempstead farm and it has the owner putting out an unusual request.  The farm, which operates under the business name Crazy K Farm Pet and Poultry Products LLC, sells quality pet and poultry products and it is looking for an affordable American manufacturer to take on a challenge.

“My company’s mission is to produce high quality items at a price in which Americans can afford to buy,” Crazy K Farm owner Tobi Kosanke said.  “Unfortunately, I have yet to be able to do that.”

Tobi Kosanke wears many hats; business owner, mom, wife, caretaker, advocate and inventor just to name a few.  She has also earned a reputation for her Dr. Doolittle-like approach to animal care.  Complete strangers to well-respected organizations such as the SPCA trust her to care for animals in danger.  Puppies, roosters with clipped wings, birds from illegal cockfighting rings, animals rescued from hurricanes, you name it – Kosanke takes them in no questions asked.  All animals – sick and well – are accepted, cared for, and given a place to call home.  The farm that has built its reputation based on trust is now home to more than 200 animals.  It’s no surprise that animals come with bills.

A few years ago, Kosanke turned to the products she has invented for her own animals to help pay those bills.  Her patented Hen Saver® (http://www.hensaver.com) is a protective hen apron.  The patent-pending Avian Haven® hut (http://www.avianhavenhut.com) is for caged birds.  The also patent-pending Kitty Holster® (http://www.kittyholster.com) is a lightweight cat harness, and her Hen Holster is a chicken diaper that also functions as a harness.  Proceeds from their sales help cover the animals’ significant food costs and medical bills.  To keep things affordable, she had her products manufactured in Bangladesh.

“I am an American consumer, and I would prefer to purchase items made in the U.S. to support American labor,” Kosanke said, “but when I became a business owner, I realized that I was unable to manufacture my products in the U.S. at a cost that would permit me to sell them at an affordable price.”

Things have been going fairly well.  Kosanke has built her lifelong hobby into a multiple award-winning business, and her animals are taken care of.  But recent news that cotton prices have reached the highest level in 140 years is hitting too close to home.  All of Kosanke’s products are made of 100% cotton except for one.  She is now searching for a new manufacturer and, like many business owners, would love to help rebuild America’s ailing economy and keep more jobs at home.  However, she does not like what she is hearing.

“I was DUMBFOUNDED by the quotes I received from manufacturers across the U.S.  The prices I was quoted for manufacturing a single item was MORE than the retail sales prices of that item, regardless of quantity,” Kosanke said.  “Why can a company in the United States NOT make a product that can be marketed to Americans at a reasonable price?  What is wrong with this picture?

“If I were to contract with the manufacturer that offered me the lowest quote, and assuming their product was of acceptable quality, I would have to double to quadruple my prices, depending on the particular product, to pay for the manufacturing of that product.  That is NOT including the cost of materials, tags, labels and packaging – that is labor.  The rule of thumb in business is that the total manufacturing costs (that includes materials, labor, tags, labels and packaging) should be between one-fifth and one-quarter of the retail sales cost of an item.  I CHALLENGE a U.S. manufacturer to be able to do that.”

Julie Reiser, Co-founder and President of Made in USA Certified, Inc., knows the challenges that business owners like Kosanke face all too well.  Her Florida-based company (http://www.usa-c.com), which is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan organization, works to certify companies that manufacture in the U.S.A.

"Unfortunately, the American manufacturer faces many challenges in this global economy that unfairly inhibits their ability to compete on a level playing field.  When other Nations manipulate their currency, flood our shores with cheap imports in a disproportionate amount – it is going to take Government intervention and legislation to create a more fair trade environment for our U.S. manufacturers and service providers,” Reiser said.  “The problem is complicated, but, extremely important and necessary to address.  Manufacturing, U.S. business and service industries are critical to providing sustainable jobs, new hiring and fueling our own National economy and it is time we all support them.  We can no longer ignore this 'elephant in the room' of unfair trade practices.  It is time for us as Americans to "Buy Our America Back" – one product, one company at a time!"

Kosanke is hoping an American manufacturer will help her be a part of that movement.  More information about Crazy K Farm can be found online at http://www.crazykfarm.com.  Media and manufacturer’s inquiries can be directed to (800) 980-4165.

About Crazy K Farm®
Crazy K Farm® (http://www.crazykfarm.com) is located in Hempstead, TX approximately 45 miles northwest of Houston.  Chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, goats and sheep are raised on the 35-acre working farm.  The majority of the animals are rescues.  Crazy K Farm® manufactures quality pet and poultry products including the patented Hen Saver® hen apron and Avian Haven® hut for caged birds, and the patent-pending Kitty Holster® cat harness.  The company has quickly grown from its humble origins as a manufacturer of pre-paid, made-to-order items sold solely via a personal eBay account, to products being manufactured by the tens of thousands and sold in stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.  Crazy K Farm, which is a three-time StartupNation business competition winning company, is also a member of the Houston Better Business Bureau.

# # #

The WRITE PLACE PR is a top quality, affordably priced PR service that caters to businesses and entrepreneurs who are looking to get their companies off to the best possible start.