Thread by @OneFreshPillow

Let me tell you a story about buying goods from "Communist China."

1/11

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1277999083836207104

When we first developed our prototype for our pillow, Mr. Pillow spent MONTHS trying to find a US mfg who would work with us. They would either laugh at him (via email) or never return his emails or phone calls in the first place.

2/11

If we weren't looking to give these outfits a $100,000+ order off the bat, they had no interest in us. (And keep in mind that TO THIS DAY we have 100% bootstrapped this thing. We have no investors. And no trust funds. BELIEVE THAT.)

3/11

There was ONE mfg in S Carolina who led us on for a few weeks, said he could help us, painted a beautiful picture of their capabilities, then at the literal last minute said, "Oh, btw, we don't do shredded memory foam."
UMMMMMM that's 2/3 of our pillow. And you knew that!

4/11

Am I still bitter? OH, YES.

5/11

We wanted SO BADLY for our pillow to be made in the USA. And we could not figure out a way to make it happen without a huge amount of cash, which we didn't have.

6/11

After 6 mos, Aaron's uncle, Hanzhi, stepped in and offered to help us. Hanzhi is from China, but has lived in the US for 30+ years. His best friend growing up owns.... wait for it..... A TEXTILE FACTORY IN CHINA.

I kid you not. *cue "It's a Small World"

7/11

Uncle Hanzhi and his childhood friend helped us get our pillow made at the factory in Guangdong. And they have been so, so good to us, and so generous. They're the only reason One Fresh Pillow was able to go to market.

8/11

So what, EXACTLY, are small businesses supposed to do, Rick? When we don't have a trust fund, Rick? When we don't have a dad to float us a few $million, Rick? When US mfgs won't work with us, Rick? When we don't have a bank account padded from defrauding Medicare, RICK?

9/11

Sure, the US Government shouldn't buy drones from China. (There's A LOT our government shouldn't be doing....) But don't stand up there and say NO ONE should buy products made in China. It is the PINNACLE of naivete. As a "successful businessman" you already know that.

10/11

anyway, that's my rant about goods from "Communist China"

#shopsmall #shoplocal

#MrsPillow2022 #FLGovernor #governor

11/11