I am writing this week's column from the great state of Michigan, in the City of Detroit, the Motor City famous for urban decay, bad politics and hopelessness among many of the inner city population. By the way, Detroit is also known for automobiles, and with the recovery and restructuring of the auto companies, the city is on an uptick.
Arriving here, I reflected on what a great airport there is, how nice the skyline looked (at least from a distance) and, how everyone—and I mean everyone—is talking about Shinola, the old World War II shoe polish company that now represents the Renaissance of Detroit.
The Shinola story is all about watches—along with marketing Detroit, selling Detroit and attempting to build the first great nonautomotive brand out of the city in decades. Bill Clinton recently purchased more than a dozen $550 Shinola watches, and he hawked the company's story in speeches, declaring: "We need more American success stories like Shinola in Detroit."
Upon arrival at our hotel, we found Shinola factory tours, watches and bicycles (the company's other signature product) proudly on display. Shinola is no longer only in Detroit; the company now has stores in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, DC and many more to come.
There is a point here. Americans are sick and tired of "Made Somewhere Else." Great products, made to the highest standard in America, by Americans, are what we need.
Good luck Detroit, you deserve Shinola.
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