For some perspective - An article about Indie Maker, Rob Honeycutt, who started making messenger bags in his garage, and then moved into low-volume manufacturing.
I could yammer on for hours about the value of local making, even at their scale, but it's interesting to think about that point when Indie Makers make that decision to leap out of the home studio to the factory floor, and what value they bring to their community and customers by doing so.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/02/we-still-make-stuff-in-san-francisco/70946/