adidas considering building factory in Detroit

[mkd]

http://on.freep.com/1IvJxLx

Pretty sweet if it happens.

[old guy]

http://on.freep.com/1IvJxLx

Pretty sweet if it happens.

Sounds good, but the opening paragraph of the story doesn't sound all that enlightening,

"Adidas, the German sports company seeking to regain its dominance in the U.S., is looking at opening an automated factory in Detroit by 2017."

[archfan]

Bring it on - we'll build and fix the robots for the automated factory.

[313WX]

Bring it on - we'll build and fix the robots for the automated factory.

Robots will be fixing the robots for the automated factories as well, if I understand what you're implying...

[archfan]

Robots will be fixing the robots for the automated factories as well, if I understand what you're implying...

Well...we'll fix the robots that fix their robots?

[animatedmartian]

Sounds good, but the opening paragraph of the story doesn't sound all that enlightening,

"Adidas, the German sports company seeking to regain its dominance in the U.S., is looking at opening an automated factory in Detroit by 2017."

That's not really any different than any of the car factories today.

[old guy]

That's not really any different than any of the car factories today.

Bingo.... ...

[313WX]

Sounds good, but the opening paragraph of the story doesn't sound all that enlightening,

"Adidas, the German sports company seeking to regain its dominance in the U.S., is looking at opening an automated factory in Detroit by 2017."

And another good point brought up by a freep commenter is "Detroit" could mean anywhere in the Metro area. Europeans don't know the difference between downtown Detroit and Canton. It's all "Detroit" to them...

[ct_alum]

And another good point brought up by a freep commenter is "Detroit" could mean anywhere in the Metro area. Europeans don't know the difference between downtown Detroit and Canton. It's all "Detroit" to them...

Everywhere I've been in the States, whenever I say I'm from Detroit, they smile and say "What suburb?" When I say I actually live in Detroit [[EEV), their eyes glaze over and they take a step back - It's very amusing.

[Gpwrangler]

Sounds good, but the opening paragraph of the story doesn't sound all that enlightening,

"Adidas, the German sports company seeking to regain its dominance in the U.S., is looking at opening an automated factory in Detroit by 2017."

Most plants have some robotic assembly. They still employ plenty of workers. There is nothing wrong with an automated factory.

[Hypestyles]

Adidas should take over any of the abandoned factories within Detroit city limits. Clean up the area totally and build state of the art facilities. We'll see whether they're willing to pay fair wages to make the shoes that many people are willing to maim each other for.

[aj3647]

Adidas should take over any of the abandoned factories within Detroit city limits. Clean up the area totally and build state of the art facilities. We'll see whether they're willing to pay fair wages to make the shoes that many people are willing to maim each other for.

Nobody is maiming anyone over Adidas shoes.

[rb336]

Nobody is maiming anyone over Adidas shoes.

and yet their shoes are generally better constructed than Nike, Asics or, or Saucony.

[aj3647]

and yet their shoes are generally better constructed than Nike, Asics or, or Saucony.

Quality has nothing to do with popularity. People kill each other for Air Jordans because of the social status surrounding them, not becuase they are objectively good shoes. Adidas shoes haven't been "cool" since the 1990's and that's part of the reason why their American market share has fallen like it has. Look at Beats by Dre. They cost hundreds of dollars and objectivley they are really just mediocre headphones. You can get Bose headphones that have superior sound quality for the same price or cheaper.

[MizMotown]

why not... corporations don't have to leave the country anymore to get cheap slave labor....

[Jason]

I think that'd be great.

[Newdetroit]

Even with robots, its better that it will be in Detroit than some other place. Plus, I'm sure they will employ some people, and will pay taxes. And, reconvert an abandoned building to use.

[aj3647]

Even with robots, its better that it will be in Detroit than some other place. Plus, I'm sure they will employ some people, and will pay taxes. And, reconvert an abandoned building to use.

If they are looking at Detroit, it's likely because they think they can take advantage of the city's desperation and negotiate themselves a deal where they pay little to nothing in property taxes in exchange for creating a few jobs and/or redeveloping an abandoned property. There's no way in hell a company like Adidas, which is struggling financially, is going to show up here, pay full taxes, and employ a bunch of people at $25 an hour to do unskilled manual labor.

[Richard]

If they are looking at Detroit, it's likely because they think they can take advantage of the city's desperation and negotiate themselves a deal where they pay little to nothing in property taxes in exchange for creating a few jobs and/or redeveloping an abandoned property. There's no way in hell a company like Adidas, which is struggling financially, is going to show up here, pay full taxes, and employ a bunch of people at $25 an hour to do unskilled manual labor.

I think you should give them Fisher Body and all the tax incentives you can muster up or is that program for locals only?

Kinda hard to discredit a company for struggling financially trying to locate to a city also struggling financially,kinda like the pot calling the kettle black,ya think?

I am sure there are lots of other cities that would love to have the jobs and recognition even if what those jobs pay far outweighs all of the service jobs available at the sports arena that you are paying in excess of 400 million to make happen.

Maybe it would make it much easier if Detroit made a list of what was required of a potential company wishing to establish business in the city,kinda like a list of demands for the privilege.

Since you brought it up,maybe some suggestions?

[FormerEastsider]

Hopefully the people they plan to employ don't have to have a PhD. in engineering.

[Cliffy]

Hopefully the people they plan to employ don't have to have a PhD. in engineering.

Jobs are jobs.

[Gpwrangler]

Hopefully the people they plan to employ don't have to have a PhD. in engineering.

Robot training takes about a week. No degree required as long as you can pass the drug and background screens.

[Zacha341]

That alone will make a percentage of folk ineligible to even think about working there. Or other jobs where they screen. Add credit checks and it's over for an even higher pool of potential applicants.

....you can pass the drug and background screens [?].

[Gpwrangler]

That alone will make a percentage of folk ineligible to even think about working there. Or other jobs where they screen. Add credit checks and it's over for an even higher pool of potential applicants.

Don't know what to say about that.

[Zacha341]

^^^ The credit check screen is a bit much as it is not that hard to see your FICO numbers slide down from a few missed payments due to lack of or an interruption in cash flow. And you need employment to increase cash flow, yet.... wash, rinse, repeat.