Need a Factory? Here’s How to Find One
An online directory may be your new best friend.
Finding a factory to make products in the U.S. often involves attending trade shows, combing through print brochures, or relying on word of mouth. Enter Maker’s Row, an online directory of some 1,500 domestic factories.
On the site, which was launched by Matthew Burnett, Tanya Menendez, and Scott Weiner in November, you can search for factories by production stage, product category, and location. Then, you can view profiles of relevant facilities, including pictures, customer reviews, contact information, and estimated turnaround times.
Burnett and Menendez came up with the idea after struggling to find local manufacturers for their previous company, Brooklyn Bakery, which made leather accessories. “I asked other product-based businesses, and they were having trouble, too,” Menendez recalls.
For now, Maker’s Row is focused on factories that specialize in clothing and accessories. It plans to add categories this year. “We want to demystify the manufacturing process,” Burnett says.
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