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Zippo Makes 500 Millionth American-Made Lighter

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    Zippo CEO Greg Booth on manufacturing in the U.S. and the company’s strong growth.

  • Duration 4:12
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-- that's good news -- US manufacturing growth.

Did slow down a little last month but we did find a company an American company that is actually adding American jobs in manufacturing.

You've heard this name zip which makes the iconic cigarette lighters just produced its 500 -- lighter David told -- -- -- -- and north.

They're putting the museum I'm sure the company CEO Greg -- though not an easy and he's right here with us that is David's news later with a bouquet of -- that's right.

Welcome thank you great to be here thanks for having us some if you if you listened to many people so come on this network if factoring is dead in the US well you're living -- -- not.

It's not dead is not dead Bradford Pennsylvania certainly not dead and Zippo manufacturing company we're growing our business.

Our business has grown nicely over the last ten years the last three years.

Pretty dramatically tend to want -- end year to date 30% thus far this year so.

We're doing well in spite of all of these cigarette and cigar as I'm sure you've noticed what's happened in New York City it's been happening all over the country.

They must have affected your sales somewhat right well they they could have -- if you look at our numbers and our track while he's ahead I don't think -- your trend line is going against what's happening in these local bands hello I think because we have taken an aggressive stance and posture against.

Some of these.

Disposables we sell or they sell billions of my across the globe and -- just taking little piece of their action.

If they're doing seven and eight billion and we do -- twelve million -- year.

All we need is a little piece of that business and we grow and grow dramatically we've done so while I'm not disposing of this effort I'm -- way forever -- real collective.

-- -- kind that's for sure.

About pricing.

We don't increase your prices that -- you there's commodities in here there's fuel there's -- sure.

And those prices ran on -- we hear about a lot less we've been very cautious about increasing prices and have worked diligently to.

To be more effective and more efficient.

Then ever before so that we can hold prices down we try not to raise prices any more than we absolutely have to so.

Price increases have not been.

An issue for us what about the international slowdown we've -- -- we may be in a recession in Europe it may spill over to -- imagine China's good market for you is that slowdown worsened -- -- if it's something we have to keep our eye on there's no question Europe represents about 20% of our business we've kept an island not just for the last month or so but for the last.

Two or three years because we've been talking about Greece and Spain and Italy problems in Europe for a long time.

So -- cognizant and work conscious of that.

The good news is we do business in about a 160 countries around the world.

So -- -- an area of the world slows down there may be another area of the world picks back up the Far East for us at for example is growing dramatically.

Our business.

Year to date is up 60% well -- -- so 466 -- 68 point nine when these particular country.

China is up dramatically India is -- Japan and we're doing just very very well -- in that area of the world.

OK so then you say we're not just a lighter company let's expand would start diversifying -- things like apparel and watches.

How's that going it's going nicely.

We're in the early stages of that diversification but knowing about the pressure you referred to earlier -- and on.

Smoking and tobacco industry in general we knew we had to diversify this program and project started for us about ten years ago.

We've gotten into multi purpose lighters for candles we've gone -- outdoor products like he informers and fire starters were moving to sunglasses and watches and writing instruments and now an outdoor product line which will include.

Grills stoves and outdoor camping gear -- we're moving in that direction and and it's it's coming nicely.

And I hold in my hand that's -- letters in her -- this is the five.

Hundred magnolia -- -- this not the only well there's several -- well the -- there was 1500 million this was the twelfth one that came off well -- it was manufactured on June 5 surrendering the 60000 -- run we made death for these ceremony in the anniversary.

Great -- made American made -- thank you growing in America and successfully.

Good thank you for having us thank you so much.

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