In any moment of political upheaval, there comes a time when a person, or a brand that constitutes two persons, has to stand up and resist. So Mitchell Gold, co-founder of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, has sent a warning and plea to the furniture company’s customers, describing the dangers the Trump Administration’s trade policies pose to the upper-middle-end decor business.
Despite Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ North Carolina factory and its Made in America branding, Gold writes, “there are still parts and pieces we source from China that cannot be found in America.” Prices of affected items could increase by as much as 10 percent, he warns.
The MG+BW online inventory doesn’t seem to list items as being made in China; items are either listed at Made in U.S.A. or the provenance is unstated. In that latter category, possible victims of the Trump trade war would include:
A glass-and-brass magazine holder, current list price $570.
A suede throw pillow, current list price $515
A small dog bed with a polished stainless-steel frame, current list price $689.
It’s not just a $689 dog bed; it’s a symbol of a healthy world order. “The President and his advisors,” Gold writes, “don’t seem to understand the complexities of modern global business and manufacturing in the USA—and perhaps more importantly, how having good trade relations preserves peace among nations.”
The message includes links for readers to contact their Congressional representatives, their senators, and President Trump himself, as well as a link to lock in existing prices before October 15.
