Our friends and neighbor (and makers of the nifty Zombie Magnets and Zombie Doorstop), Zach Manchester and Derek Reynolds of Odd Art Fabrications, got featured in the local newspaper yesterday.
One thing I really like about OAF is how Zach is focusing on making things in America again. How hard could that be? Actually, from my experience with him working on the Neatorama line of products, this is actually harder than it seems because a lot of raw material and toolings aren't even made in the USA anymore.
Kat Mabry of The Signal writes:
Manchester tries to use all local business connections as much as possible, and his business partners Silao, and Paul Sellier both agree.
“We want to keep it all in the United States,” said Paul Sellier, in charge of the business and sales side of OAF.
Manchester said he will go even farther if possible.“I’d like to keep it all in Santa Clarita,” Manchester said. “I’ve already sort of done that though. My fiberglass facility is right down the street; my sheet metal place is right around the corner.”
The value of conducting business locally without looking outside the area is stronger than ever for Manchester now that he’s been in business for a full year, he said.
Now he’s passionate about his mission.
The way business in this country operates is the reason jobs have disappeared, Manchester said.
“I tried to find a place local to cast the dead wedges for us, and it doesn’t exist,” he said.
If you've want something built, Zach's the guy to talk to: Link | Odd Art Fabrications website | You can also contact Zach at: oafs@oddartfabrications.com (photo: Jonathan Pobre/The Signal)