An Excellent Series by ABC World News - Made in America

Consumer interest and desire of Made in USA products continues to increase and there is now an intriguing and informative series unfolding on ABC World News called Made in America.

ABC World News - Made in America

Unlike me, someone who completely furnished my home with Made in USA products across three decades, ABC tackled a more formidable project.  They wondered if it was possible to furnish a home completely with Made in USA goods, today. 

I admit that today I simply could not replace everything in my own home without purchasing vintage products.  As an example, my parents beautiful stainless waffle maker sits upon my kitchen counter and a new domestic replacement is not available in the marketplace.

My own personal story can be found on our site here.

Curious isn't it?  How much is available today, domestically produced for our homes?

A Call to Buy Goods Made in America





Yes, there was a time when our manufacturing base kept the U.S. strong, self reliant and self sufficient.  Simply, production is the means to create wealth and we produced our way to the status of the wealthiest country on earth.

Bankers have a role in our economy, but throughout life I understood that my father with his lunchbox did more to create wealth than the boys on Wall Street who play with papers and who appear to excel only at wealth destruction.

I've never, never, never understood those dimwitted and deviant individuals who convinced themselves and others that our country could somehow import its way to prosperity. 

Unfortunately, I could not include more than one video in a post, so please see below for additional videos with my comments.


Mary - A proud American manufacturer and web person for FindUSMade.com

Meet the Usry Family - ABC Series - Made in America

It was the Usry family that volunteered for the ABC series and in the clip below, they explore their home checking the country of origin on products they own. 

Made in America: What's In Your Home?




I realize that many shoppers don't consider or check the country of origin prior to purchase. There are though, many shoppers like myself who always check the country of origin before we reach into our wallets.

This series is focused on the importance of job creation but as a manufacturer watching this family explore their home checking products, I thought to myself - fire hazard... risk of formaldehyde... risk of cadmium... lack of durability... risk of lead, etc.

This is an intriguing series and there is another video with my comments in the following post.

Mary - web person for FindUSMade.com

Usry Family - ABC Series, Finding U.S. Products

I smiled when I saw the hunt begin for a U.S. made coffee maker.  My head shook when they thought they found one. 

Made in America: Finding U.S. Products



The Usry family is in for a very nice temporary household upgrade, as the products are on loan from the companies.  Their home will be filled with American made products that deliver quality and safety, simply - they deliver a good value.

I do suggest a visit to the ABC World News web page where you can view numerous videos, take a quiz, explore an interactive map, as well as find other engaging material.

ABC World News - Made in America

I'm delighted that our national media has seized an important topic and is undoubtedly raising awareness.  This is an informative and inspiring series and is actually quite thorough.  They stress the jobs that can be created by purchasing Made in USA products.

As I've stated on this Blog, consumers are the force within the marketplace.  Your every whim, interest, desire, curiosity, inclination, etc., once known will be researched, charted, graphed, and studied resulting in early morning meetings.  It only takes a small percentage of shift in your spending habits to trigger those meetings.

30 years ago, before I was ever a manufacturer, I made a simple decision to buy American because I liked the idea that someone like my dad would get a paycheck from the money I spent.  Supporting or creating a job for a fellow American appears to be quite altruistic, a trait I attribute to my mother.

Across those decades though, I came to realize how much I had done for myself.  My home is filled with products that deliver customer satisfaction, durability, quality, innovation, safety and value.  Regardless of price, my purchases came with a lower cost to own.

I am someone who is still using my parents waffle maker.  Like them, I spend my money once and I'm done.  When I consider folks who purchase imports and spend their money repeatedly, it actually appears quite extravagant to me.  My suspicion is they somehow believe they are saving money.  Huh.


You will likely enjoy reading these five Blogs from people who have dedicated themselves to buying American.

China Ate My Jeans

Joe of America

Buy American Challenge

Shopping Made in the USA

Shelley's Made in The USA 365 Day Challenge


Mary - web person for FindUSMade.com

Yet Another Made in USA General Store

I'd like to tell you about my sort of business person.  His name is Mark Andol and he's an American manufacturer.  He lost a large client to a Chinese competitor and had to close some manufacturing locations and lay off workers which he found disturbing. 

Now in this situation a man like Jeff Fettig, CEO of Whirlpool Corporation would start to whine about his company's inability to compete in the marketplace.  In 2009 during a recession, Mr. Fettig enjoyed a 77% increase in his compensation.  Nice raise.  In 2010, 1,000 Americans in Evansville, Indiana lost their jobs when Whirlpool moved them to Mexico.  So that whole competition problem is solved now to Mr. Fettig's satisfaction, correct?  Mr. Fettig is only mentioned again on this Blog because he serves as superb contrast to an inspiring and admirable American. 

Mr. Andol reacted to foreign competition by investing $50,000 in a 2,000 square foot retail store in Elma, New York.  He stocked that store with exclusively Made in USA products.  The legal definition isn't quite good enough for Mr. Andol as he insists that every item in his store be 100% Made in USA including the packaging.

Most of the employees Mr. Andol had to lay off he now employs in his store.   

His store launch was quite successful.  The store is stocked with a variety of U.S. made goods as well as his own products.  If you are in or near Elma, New York stop in to browse and shop.  If you reside elsewhere in the country you can click the photo below and shop his online store. 

As an American manufacturer I can tell you that it's extremely difficult to get shelf space in large chain stores.  Large retail chains prefer imported products because they come with a larger profit margin.  It makes sense because there isn't quality, safety, innovation, craftsmanship, etc. built into those products.  That leaves a greater margin for profit.  No, the chain stores didn't pass on any savings to you, the consumer. 

This is the third brick and mortar store that we've found with exclusively Made in USA inventory.  Other prudent merchants will likely embrace the same concept.  With each new such retail location comes another opportunity for American manufacturers to find shelf space. 

This is the right direction.  Well done Mr. Andol. 

Country artist Ricky Lee recorded a song that just might be my new favorite Country tune. 

Please visit our site to browse and shop the companies who can compete.

Mary - Proud American manufacturer and web person for FindUSMade.com

A Truly American General Store & American Aisle

A General Store is a rarity in communities across the country - even more rare is one that is filled with only Made in USA goods.

That is exactly the inventory that shopkeeper Deborah Leydig wisely chose to offer folks in her community of Barrington, Illinois. Norton's U.S.A. offers housewares, greeting cards, toys, glassware, jewelry, apparel, gift wrap, ribbons, china & much more.


While there are numerous examples of online malls filled exclusively with US made products, listed here, this was the first example we found of a brick and mortar mixed inventory store that decided in favor of only US made goods.
The second example we found was a shop called American Aisle. It's located in Round Lake Beach, Illinois. The two owners, Nitai Pandya and Mia Kenig-Bujnarowski cut the ribbon on their shop in December 2008. They offer their patrons Made in the USA cosmetics, toys, cutlery, kitchen items, wallets, hair accessories, lunch boxes & much more.


Fortunately for shoppers across the country, American Aisle has opened an online store so that we all might browse and shop a brick & mortar merchant that is devoted to supporting U.S. manufacturing.

Their online store is now searchable in our Marketplace search.

In my travels across the Internet, I've come across other people with dreams of opening a Made in USA store - a shop with only US made products. The two merchants noted above are demonstrating that such a dream is feasible.

My own personal dream is an eco-friendly shopping complex with a number of different shops, each with distinct domestic inventory that meet shoppers various needs.

I so thoroughly enjoyed adding American Aisle to our Marketplace search this day. It's strange sometimes, how dreams are realized in unexpected ways.

UPDATE - 07/16/2010

Another occasion to smile as today I added Norton's USA new online store to our site and Marketplace search. 


Mary - Webperson for FindUSMade.com

JCPenney's "American Made" Tee Shirt is Made in Mexico

JCPenney has a line of products which they call American Living. The line includes apparel, luggage, furniture, home furnishings & decor items.

Reading labels at JCPenney reveals an array of countries that contribute to their inventory including China, Taiwan, Honduras, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, etc. How might you expect the U.S. to be represented in such a diverse setting? You might like to think that the American Living brand would be the ideal means for the U.S. to be included, but alas, that brand is nearly all or entirely foreign made.

Before you frown, upset that so many other countries contribute to JCPenney's inventory rather than the U.S. - know that JCPenney found a use for our beloved country.

The U.S. & all things American makes a splendid marketing tool for JCPenney.

Yes, the foreign made American Living brand has a logo with a bald eagle carrying our U.S. flag and the brand is marketed with wholesome American families, country bands & singers, and white picket fences. JCPenney doesn't feel obligated to actually offer American made products instead they are content to simply brand foreign made products with all things that are American.



In addition to leveraging our national symbols and our American lifestyle to hawk foreign made goods, JCPenney placed a Memorial Day advertisement for a tee shirt with the slogan "American Made."

The advertisement caught the eye of a man named Joe Allen.

Mr. Allen was a clothing manufacturer until his company was lost due to unfair foreign competition.

At first, Mr. Allen was delighted with the tee shirt that JCPenney advertised with "American Made" across the front until he read the label in the store that disclosed the shirt was made in Mexico.

Incensed, Mr. Allen brought the tee shirt to the attention of the A.A.M. who contacted JCPenney about the garment. Their spokesperson, Kelly Sanchez explained the slogan "American Made." "This type of slogan is referring to the actual person wearing the shirt and not to the manufacturing of the merchandise."

As I sit here in my American made chair, at my American made desk, wearing my American made undergarments, Capri pants, top & New Balance footwear, I realize that I was lost to the fact that I myself am American made. Does this mean there is a Made in USA label stitched to my birth certificate?

We have JCPenney resorting to reminding their customers that at least they are themselves American made if not the garments that JCPenney wants to sell to them. JCPenney thinks we Americans might be in need of a shirt that promotes American made people, but not American made products.

It gets better - JCPenney told BusinessWeek that the line is “intended to evoke our American lifestyle and pride in being American.”

I've not seen the shirt yet somehow it most certainly evoked something in me which can not be described as pride.

So, JCPenney believes that pride in being American is best accomplished with a shirt that is made in Mexico. I'm now wondering if JCPenney requires an American flag to fly outside their headquarters that was made in China for them to feel pride in being American.

JCPenney has been in operation in the U.S. for 105 years yet I can't help but conclude that their management & marketing personnel have not been in this country for long.

As a businessperson, I'm sensitive and mindful of marketing. The origin of that tee shirt & the American Living brand makes all the difference in the world between a sincere marketing message and one that is profoundly vacant.

All things American brings a world of meaning to us which is exactly why JCPenney unconscionably brands all things imported with everything that is American.

JCPenney hi-jacked our American flag, our bald eagle, our American families & lifestyles, our country & Rock 'N Roll artists, our celebrations in life, our nations scenery, even our white picket fences to brand their imported schlock and now wants to sell Americans a made in Mexico shirt to promote pride in being American.

All things American holds no greater meaning for JCPenney than how well it can move imported product out the door.

All things American though goes bone deep to the rest of us.

The only thing in all of this that I recognize as genuinely American is Mr. Allen.

This elderly former American manufacturer was tricked by JCPenney into thinking they were offering a tee shirt that was made in our own country promoting a message that was very important and meaningful to him.

It was a wasted trip to the store for Mr. Allen - he found nothing American at JCPenney.


If you care to share your views, you can contact JCPenney's CEO, Myron Ullman at 972-431-8200. You can also phone Kelly Sanchez at 972-431-3961 or email her at ksanch18@jcpenney.com.


For an example of a sincere marketing message, see the New Balance video in the post below.

If you are shopping for an American made tee shirt, may I suggest Union Shirt Supply. They offer 100% USA union made tee shirts. A loose fitting style for women in colors can be purchased for $7.50.

The imported American Living tee shirts at JCPenney with their logo were selling for $30.00 and are presently priced at $14.99.

Mary - Webperson for FindUSMade.com

Do You Have What It Takes To Be An American Manufacturer?

Could I interest you in some role-playing? Would you like to test yourself by making some important business decisions? Would you like to explore your ethics and values as well as your business savvy? If you’re game, please keep reading.

Let’s review our respective circumstances in this role-playing exercise.

I’m a manufacturer in the US and I must pay at least the minimum wage for labor.

I operate according to guidelines, regulations and laws that govern my product and my conduct. There’s a set of standards and regulations for every manufacturer operating in the US. They govern what I can and can’t do when I manufacture.

Perhaps you’re thinking that my circumstance is somewhat stifling, enough possibly to get in the way of profits. I’m thinking though that I have the easy role in this exercise.

You are a manufacturer in China. Technically, there is a minimum wage but you can ignore that if you like and pay what you wish for labor.

The Chinese government takes no proactive role in manufacturing and only addresses problems if they become known and made public. It’s extremely doubtful that your product will ever be inspected or tested. With no regulations in place to get in your way, you are free to make all sorts of choices.

That sounds rather splendid doesn't it? As a theory, regulations are an unnecessary burden that would just get in the way of your profits, right? Let’s take that theory to the real world and test your ability to make decisions.

All sorts of US companies have come to your country, China, looking for the absolute cheapest price for goods. Quality & innovation can be had elsewhere so everyone comes to you solely for cheap prices. You’re positioned well with great flexibility on how you manufacture and how low you’re able to keep labor costs. You’re ready to make some money, aren't you?

This exercise could be accomplished with a variety of products from any industry, but we’ll use simple, familiar examples.

For now, you get to manufacture paint. It’s okay if you don’t know much about chemicals because I have only 1 decision for you.

Do you use lead pigment in your paint or a more expensive alternative?

I know you just started manufacturing and this is new to you but this decision must be made in your new business. Do you have an answer? You can secure a contract and move product out the door if you've sharpened your pencil. How badly do you want a contract? Using lead pigment lowers your product cost, right?

How nice that the government - delighted with their role in the global economy, doesn't care about the decisions you make in your business. You deserve to succeed, correct? You certainly deserve the contract.

Somehow I sense that you haven’t yet committed to a decision on the lead pigment. Does something give you pause about such a choice? Oh, you know that lead is a poison, don’t you? You might worry that your paint would be used on toys. Children would be exposed to the lead in your paint and they could suffer with blood and brain disorders.

Is there any reason though to drag ethics and conscience into a business decision?

Don’t look at me, I face no such choice. I could have contracted product in China but it never crossed my mind because I don’t want any part of such a decision so I’m manufacturing in the US. You’re the one with the freedom and flexibility, which should serve business well, right?

So, do you use lead pigment in your paint or a more expensive alternative?

I understand your hesitation, believe me, I understand.

Your fellow manufacturers in China will readily make that decision so we’ll leave the paint manufacturing to them and find you another role.

Okay, how about a fun business like making toys? Congratulations, you’re now a toy maker in China. Disney is already knocking on your door with a contract for swell and cool looking painted toys. They want them of course, as cheaply as possible.

Painted toys? Eh. You know a thing or two now about paint in China, don’t you? Your government even signed a meaningless agreement in 2007 that banned the use of lead paint on toys. It’s not enforced and is ignored by your fellow manufacturers.

You’d rather not use any paint on your toys that has lead pigment. Where would you find some and what would it cost? What would it cost to test so you could be certain it was free of lead?

Pressure to produce goods cheaply, always seems to turn you and your fellow manufacturers toward difficult choices, doesn't it? Maybe you can cut back further on payroll and hope your people will still come to work. You can’t save money by cutting frivolous things like safety equipment because unlike me, you never made any such purchases. Ensuring any product safety just adds cost to your product and makes it harder to compete for contracts. You’d certainly like that contract with Disney though…

What do you do?

You haven’t had any fun yet nor have you made any money.

You know it’s possible, but maybe you’re just not cut out to be a manufacturer in China. That’s okay, neither am I.

Maybe you’d like to own an American business and outsource your manufacturing. That role comes with many perks. That could be fun. You see, if you outsource production, you can trade labor & material costs for a massive profit margin. Nice. Retailers love that margin and they'll throw consumers a dollar or three in savings to bait them into buying something imported over something domestic. Your products will get a ton of shelf space.

Go ahead and arrange that fitting for new suits at the tailor. Check out the Hamptons and choose from the many available homes. Select a designer and get the boardroom redecorated.

You'll make lots of money in business and that's what counts, right? You can nail the American dream. Who would have guessed that the path to the American dream ran through China? You'll be part of the global economy and you can have a nice office building with an American flag flying out front.

The likelihood exists that one of your products will one day be recalled, but given your massive profits, you'll be able to handle the loss from such an event.

Would that role suit you?

You don’t have to wonder at all if I envy someone in that role because if I did I would have outsourced my own production.

You know, there’s a reader I lost earlier when they decided in favor of lead pigment. I lost another reader who would have crossed their fingers when they bought paint for their toys. I lost yet another reader who is daydreaming about grand homes in the Hamptons.

I’m left only with you, someone who hasn't yet found a role that suits them in this exercise.

Welcome brother. Come have a seat by me because it’s clear that you have what it takes to be an American manufacturer. Let me tell you about the role. You won’t make massive amounts of money but if you work hard you can make a good living. In addition to income, you’ll have wonderful people who work with you daily and help you succeed in business. You’ll view them not as an expense, but as family.

You'll make decisions that serve you in the long term, not the short term since you're building a business for this generation and the next.

You’ll have to deal at times with retailers that can be downright hostile to your products because of their smaller profit margin, but you’ll take great pride in the products you produce.

You’ll sleep well and contentedly at night except when you worry about competitors foreign made products because you know where they cut corners.

When shoppers question you about your products, you can tell them honestly that quality and safety matter to you because your actions prove it every day. Any time you like you can leave your desk and step out on the shop floor. Keep your eyes and ears open because the same people with hands on your product can offer tips and ideas that you can use.

An especially good part is the customers. You’ll come to treasure them because they’re the ones who value what you produce. You’ll come to recognize their names and faces because they return so often to do business with you. You’ll be thankful that at no point in your lifetime will you likely look one of these people in the eye and apologize because your product harmed one of their family members.

You’ll also get to set up a special file. It’s not for complaints, no, it’s for those hand written letters from your customers. You’ll be surprised and flattered whenever you receive them, yet, there they’ll be with expressions of gratitude. Yep. You’ll get them and treasure them as well. You might even have them framed so they can adorn your office walls because you consider them the most prestigious awards you won this year.

You and I can laugh at those rewarded only with dollars and who don’t realize that ethics and values are very much a part of smart business. We’ll agree that the American way is the very thing we should export in the global economy.

Outside your plant, you’ll likely fly the American flag. You might even raise it yourself in the morning. You’ll know the same as I that the path to the American dream doesn't run through China. You’ll recognize everything that is right and just about that flag flying outside your door. It’s fitting for everyone whose love of country is greater than their love of money.

Mary - A proud American manufacturer and web person for FindUSMade.com

3 Decades of Purchasing US Made Products

Buying US made products isn't a new idea - it's one I embraced 30 years ago when I first made my home. I learned much along the way in life, including how wise it was to fill my home with Made in the USA products.

I'm presently an American manufacturer so in some ways, I've come full circle. I realize more than ever that domestic manufacturing is essential to our nation's economic security.

I took a page on our site to explain my journey over 30 years. You can read my full comments here: Comments

Should you visit our site, you'll likely be surprised at what you'll find in our departments. American manufacturers and workers have been busy, very busy...

Mary - web person for Find US Made.com