For decades, products were designed in one country, manufactured in another, and shipped halfway around the world. It worked, until it didn't.

Today, the vulnerabilities of global supply chains are hard to ignore, from geopolitical tensions to a sweeping wave of new tariffs.

As of last week, goods from 60+ countries, including the EU, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and more, are now subject to tariffs of 10–20%. For manufacturers dependent on overseas production, this is a real and immediate cost increase. The reality is pushing companies to ask the same question we built our distributed manufacturing model to answer: Why ship globally when you can build locally?

Why It Matters Now

1. Resilience: Local production helps companies navigate global shocks without relying on vulnerable supply chains.

2. Lower Carbon Footprint: Reducing the distance between where products are made and used directly cuts transport emissions.

3. Economic and Community Impact: Local manufacturing strengthens regional economies, keeps jobs in communities, and builds social capital.

4. Enabling Circularity: Local models make it possible to reuse and remanufacture in ways global systems can't.

Our network of Microfactories across nine countries operates independently but shares standardized production technology, locally sourced materials, and hyperlocal distribution. The result is a manufacturing model that is tariff-proof, low-carbon, and scalable, proving that local manufacturing is a competitive reality.

When tariffs in previous cycles drove furniture prices up by 1.7% to 7.1%, companies with localized production avoided these spikes, maintaining both pricing stability and stronger community relationships.

Consumers now ask where products come from. Regulators demand decarbonization and economic resilience. Businesses are learning that localizing production can deliver both a sustainable and competitive advantage.

When supply chains falter, local manufacturing stands strong. It’s time to move beyond global dependency and embrace the power of local.

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