More shearing

Following the shearing noticed at reference 1, I have been thinking and checking some more about the Wahl Clipper Corporation.

First, they do seem to do sheep, along with cows, horses, dogs and other pets. But do they sell clippers to shear all those sheep in Australia?

Second, I wondered whether they had just become a front for a Chinese manufacturing operation. In effect, the Chinese buy market access to the chosen market, in this case clippers, in the form of a well-established US corporation. They then hollow out the US corporation, moving the manufacturing to China, just leaving the sales and marketing operation in the US. Initially at least, remaining to all appearances a US corporation, a trusted US brand with a long and enviable history. Headquartered, as it happens, at 2900 Locust St, Sterling, IL, 61081 USA. Gradually the centre of gravity moves across the Pacific and eventually the company comes clean as a Chinese operation. Trump gets cross about this loss of business.

Government fails

Not knowing how these things are organised in the US, I had difficulty tracking down information about this company. Reference 2 offered very little. There didn't seem to be any share price information and I eventually decided that Wahl remains a family business, not listed on the stock market at all. I then find my way to the Illinois Secretary of State's website which includes a business search facility, but one which declines to work. Had it worked, I dare say I would have turned up whatever large family owned corporations in the US are supposed to file, Illinois variety. Presumably something more than nothing. Presumably Wahl do file in Illinois.

Google succeeds

In desperation I turn to to gmaps and paste in the address given above. Confusion about whether Locust Street is also sometimes called Pennington Street notwithstanding, I have a picture of the Wahl headquarters, out in the flat open spaces. And for after work, there is the Candlelight Restaurant opposite, which either is or is tricked out to be a converted farmhouse or barn. I suppose the US version of a heritage public house. See reference 3.

But not yet much the wiser about where the centre of gravity is.

Google fails

The company song?

Then Bloomberg tell me about Wahl Clipper Ningbo Ltd at Zhongxing East Road, Xikou Town, Ningbo, 315502 China. Which gmaps turns up OK, a little to the north of the Shanjiang River, quite near Nigbo and south of Shanghai. But, sadly, out of range of Street View. And the web site advertised, reference 4, unlike the US web site, does not seem to be exclusively sales orientated. But it is in Chinese, so I am still not much the wiser.

Reference 1: http://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-shearing.html.

Reference 2: https://us.wahl.com/.

Reference 3: https://www.candlelightinnrestaurant.com/sterling.html.

Reference 4: http://www.wahlcn.com/.