“Everything about Houston made sense,” said John C. Higgins, president and CEO of Neutex Advanced Energy Group. “Most other cities are not as progressive as Houston is.”
![Manufacturing in Houston [Slideshow]](http://www.industryweek.com/site-files/industryweek.com/files/imagecache/thumb_img/gallery_promo_image/Toshiba1.jpg)
Reshoring doesn’t seem to be a fringe trend in Houston. Rather, it seems to be more of the norm.
Maybe that explains why Houston already has recouped all of its job losses from the recession. Or why the 10-county MSA represents 23% of the state’s economy.
In any case, three very different companies recently decided to move manufacturing back to the states, to Houston, for very similar reasons.
An American Style
Farouk Shami, executive chairman and founder of Farouk Systems, a manufacturer of the CHI and Biosilk hair and spa products, in 2009 moved operations in Korea and China to Houston, the home of its global headquarters.
Shami, who characterizes himself as an “American by choice,” said he wanted to do his part to spur the U.S. economy.
“We need to bring jobs back,” said Shami.
In explaining his reasons for bringing manufacturing to Houston, Shami sounded like an ambassador for the city.
“Houston is God’s country,” said Shami, who donned a pair of CHI-branded cowboy boots.
His reasons varied — from the climate to the international melting pot of residents to the accessibility of the city — but, in the end, the premise was: he could manufacture products in the U.S. at comparable costs to Asia.
But, indeed, Shami has embraced Houston as home both for himself and for his company. The exterior of one of the two manufacturing facilities Farouk’s operates in Houston is decorated with blue and red stripes and stars, paying homage to the state.
