In January 2002, Ross Auman got the call every plant manager dreads: shut down the factory, permanently. The Somerset, Pa., boot plant he’d worked at since high school was caught up in its parent company’s collapse as footwear and garment work moved overseas. Recently, AAM took a tour that same factory, now Abilene Boot Company. While there, AAM President Scott Paul sat down with Ross, who is now a co-owner, to hear how he and two partners bought the business out of bankruptcy, and reopened the factory after just six months. They also discuss why the plant survived by focusing on quality instead of volume, Abilene’s push into work boots with its Silverado line, and the rise in brands looking for US factories to make their boots. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources Abilene Boot Company: https://www.abileneboot.com/ Resources & Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing