| Hi, I'm BJ Minson. I started GRIP6 eight years ago when I patented and sold the first GRIP6 Belt. Today, we make the world's best Belts, Socks, and Wallets. We represent an essential piece of the American economy: the small business manufacturer. We make our lifetime guaranteed products right here in the USA, and we even source in the USA.
* Read about our beginnings and principles below * If you don't have time to read, check us out at grip6.com * And take a quick survey by clicking here!
Why is Manufacturing so important for the United States? Independence and the ability to problem solve in both small and large ways are absolutely critical; they’re not just important on an individual level - we as a nation need these to be strong and stay competitive. Manufacturing means problem-solving in large and small ways, on a day-to-day basis. It provides a learning ground for physical and mental growth.
I started GRIP6 with this firmly in mind. At the time, I was growing concerned about the lack of products that were made in the USA, so when I designed a really great belt and started my own company, I decided to make them myself.
That seemingly small decision brought a surprising amount of criticism. People told me it was impossible to compete with cheap labor overseas. They said if I stuck to my plan, my business would certainly fail. Some even considered me self-righteous for not relying on China. This irked me; the idea that we couldn’t do something so simple in the United States felt wrong to me. If we couldn’t manufacture a simple (but amazing) belt right here in the U.S., what did that say about us? I’m stubborn and decided I’d risk it because I couldn’t stand the idea of being dependent on another country for success within my own. So with the odds against me (most new businesses fail, especially in manufacturing), I gathered a couple of friends to help and we started making some great belts in my garage.
In that first year, we were successful enough, although there were many bumps and bruises along the way. But, we were able to build some rudimentary machines and begin our path to manufacturing in 2014. The first machine I built was an automated sewing machine contraption for the webbing, and the second machine I built was a bender for the buckles. People seemed to love my minimalist and infinitely adjustable belt system, and we steadily grew. And our manufacturing capabilities increased - from rudimentary machines in my garage in 2014 to a large manufacturing facility in 2022, replete with robots, complex automation, fiber optic lasers, and state-of-the-art knitting machines. In 2020, we added premium wool socks and a patented wallet system designed to be the quickest way to draw a card at the checkout counter.
We were able to grow and innovate, keep up with demand and the pace of innovation because we built a solid foundation as a manufacturer, with the intent to modernize and compete. We have never been tied to a supply chain stretching across an uncertain ocean. In fact, our customer service is 50 feet from our machines and that means we can adjust immediately to customer needs. And the innovation and problem solving isn’t just mine. All GRIP6 employees have opportunities for innovation and to use their creative skills to solve problems. What’s important here is that manufacturing in the U.S. can be competitive, successful, and produce amazing products. Today we send our belts, socks, and wallets all over the world; to about 200 countries.
I believe the struggles we faced, the problems we solved, and the small gains in manufacturing knowledge we discovered, are all critical to our nation and need to happen to thousands of similar companies, so the US can be reinforced by a manufacturing “backbone”, built by companies like GRIP6.
As a consumer, I feel responsible to actively search and buy American Made and American Sourced products because I want to both give back and give forward. I’m not saying everyone should necessarily buy from GRIP6, but I am saying that anytime we shop, we give an opportunity to American Made products first, and when they are high quality and done right, we give them a chance, and "vote with our dollar."
In any case, thank you for listening and giving us a chance! Please click here to take a short survey, it’ll help us understand our customers and potential customers better (and it comes with a discount on all our products).
If you'd like to know more about our belts, socks, and wallets, and why they are the best, click here.
If you're ready to give us a chance (lifetime guarantee, so no risk), shop: For Socks, Shop Socks. For Wallets, Shop Wallets. For Belts, Shop Belts.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me at [email protected].
Thanks! BJ | 