Due to changes in my lifestyle, I've been able to catch the Jeff Farias show a few times recently. On his web site,
http://www.jefffarias.com/ is a link to
http://www.findusmade.com/ Allow me to share what I’ve learned. There is a microwave oven that is Made in the USA. There is also a US made electric popcorn popper, stainless steel flatware, undergarments, dog toys, light bulbs & crystal glassware. There are US made toothbrushes & garden clogs manufactured from recycled plastic.
There is a mill that is owned by the employees and they are producing textiles. As I recall there is a nun in Ohio who is producing organic textiles as a means to create jobs in her community. The Amish are busy building toys and furniture. A new company is producing what has to be an indestructible cutting board made from the scraps of skateboard parks. There is a US made telephone in an oak case as well as steel runner sleds. Who knew that we produce extra virgin olive oil, potato vodka and caviar in this country?
We also manufacture green, white & silver Christmas trees as well as shiny glass ball ornaments.
It's almost like going back in time to my childhood. Many of the names & brands that I remember are still in operation and they never moved production abroad. They never abandoned this country in favor of sweatshop/slave labor. They never traded quality for a larger profit margin nor did they put our health at risk by avoiding our strict product regulations.
Beyond the many surprising things I found Made in the USA was the nature of the companies producing these products. I don't think I saw a single example of the corporate structure. The domestic manufacturers seem to be nearly all small or family owned businesses.
I'm aware that corporations used the supposedly high cost of the American worker to explain moving production to other countries. What then explains how domestic manufacturers are competing in the marketplace if they are supposedly saddled with the workers that were too expensive for corporations?
The answer I believe is the difference in their business models. I'm part of a family owned business and we compete even in the face of unfair competition. We run lean and mean though without the many bloated layers of corporate management. Corporations moved production not because of expensive American workers. They moved production so they could support their expensive bloated management. The corporate business model is actually grossly inefficient.
So what will it cost the consumer to avoid sweatshop labor and possibly dangerous products?
Let me tell you about the sweatpants I'm wearing. They are the absolute nicest pair of sweatpants I have ever owned! Not only are they US made, but they are union made sweatpants. They are heavyweight, fleece lined, extremely warm and they have large deep pockets. They didn't scrimp on the length so my height is well accommodated and the seams are straight and tight. No doubt I'll be wearing these for years. I paid $18.00.
My son needs socks so I'm buying a package of a dozen US made socks for $17.00. I can also buy a metal nutcracker for .85 and a plastic spoon rest for .77. I doubt you will believe that I can get a price break if I buy several of them.
I may buy a friend a white dress shirt for $24.99 and my neighbor is buying her grandson a steel chassis & wood wagon for $99.99. A beautiful large crystal vase will cost me $16.00. A 4 pack of toothbrushes costs $13.00 and a bra will cost me $22.69.
Oh, the reflective glass ball tree ornaments are $4.49 for a box of 8.
These are ordinary things that most Americans routinely purchase and they certainly seem affordable to me.
What appears to me is that a quiet manufacturing revolution is underway in this country and environmentalism, unions, consumers, small business and even the Amish community are responsible. Hopefully, this manufacturing rebirth occurs before we’re completely undone by current policies. Something is afoot given the increased calls to our office from folks inquiring about the origin of our products. If we’re getting such calls, so are other companies. Manufacturers and retailers do respond to consumer desires evidenced by recent activity with toy sales.
The downtown shop window doesn't show off the products I want to see but here at my computer, the online shop window displayed hours of awesome things that were made by my fellow Americans.
Please take some time and marvel at what small and family owned businesses are accomplishing in this country.
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