by John Weiss
weiss@postbulletin.com
WABASHA — John Behrns was looking for a use for the main building of the now-closed Arrowhead Bluffs Museum on a bluff overlooking Wabasha.
Kelly McDonald was looking for a place to expand her small business, which she opened in a closed clinic in downtown Wabasha, so her handbags, women's accessories and other items can be made in the U.S.
The two are expected to come together in about a month when McDonald moves her AMUSA business to the former museum owned by Behrns and his parents, Les and Shirley Behrns. She wants to eventually employ about 20 people in the leased building.
John Behrns, who has done carpentry work around the world for many years, is now renovating much of the main museum building, which once held scores of full-body mounts of trophy wildlife, a large collection of firearms and an even larger collection of Indian artifacts.
He said he's known McDonald, who grew up in Wabasha, for many years. When they were out boating last summer, he mentioned that he had a lot of room at the museum, and the project was born, he said.
People are looking for American-made products, such as those done by KIS Fashions, another McDonald business, he said.
"There's a lot of patriotism, and they are willing to pay a little bit more for American stuff," he said. "It gives you a good feeling, that it's made in America."
McDonald said she once headed a Twin Cities insurance agency but was blinded for a year when and eye doctor put the wrong drops in her eyes. When she regained her sight, she found many of her sunglasses had been scratched by her keys because they were all jumbled in her purse.
She decided to make a couple of her own purses and found others wanted them, too. She eventually began having the purses made in China, Mexico and India. But when she was scheduled to fly to China with a designer, there were influenza and terrorism alerts.
"I just didn't feel right about taking her over there," she said.
She also didn't like that the glue used in China was banned in the U.S. because of its toxicity.
And then she found out about The Makers Coalition out of St. Paul that is working to "restore and build the industrial sewing heritage of America." She joined it and decided to reverse the outsourcing trend and bring the jobs back to America to make items for KIS.
When she mentioned the idea to local people, they encouraged her to open her business in Wabasha.
"This town needs the employment," she said. She formed AMUSA to make KIS products as well as those for other small companies.
McDonald said AMUSA can get specialized items out much faster and make changes more quickly than the Chinese plants, she said. For every 350 handbags she needs, she can hire six people for a month, she said. She said payroll is higher in America, but she can save on transportation and other costs.
McDonald believes others in America will see that and outsourcing could slow.
"I think it's going to get to the point where I think we are going to become competitive," she said. "We're not there yet."
But she thinks that time will come. As business owners, "we need to put our foot down," she said. "We need to bring the jobs back."
John Behrns and Kelly McDonald stand in the former main part of Arrowhead Bluffs Museum on a blufftop near Wabasha where McDonald will move her AMUSA business. Up to 30 people might work there making purses, women's accessories and other items.
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