When are you willing to pay more for a product made in Minnesota?

QBP Wheelhouse
Jen Wenmark and Nick Faircloth assemble wheels in the QBP Wheelhouse in Bloomington, Minn. (MPR Photo/Molly Bloom)

Minnesota boutique bike makers have been building for years on a small scale and charging a hefty price. One local parts maker and distributor, though, has plans to get bigger, make money and ship globally while still keeping his bike building operation home-grown.

“We believe that we can start manufacturing bikes right here in Minnesota. That’s in our game plan,” said Steve Flagg, chief executive of Bloomington-based Quality Bicycle Products.

It’s a risky idea, no doubt. Roughly 95 percent of bikes sold in the world are produced in Taiwan or China and production costs are a big question. (Statewide, MPR News)

Today's Question: When are you willing to pay more for a product made in Minnesota?

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