Home for the Holidays 2014

According to the New York Times, the average person who shopped on Small Business Saturday this year spent less than the previous year but the overall spending increased by 2.1 percent. This was due to strong awareness and the sheer volume of shoppers supporting their local businesses. This is great news but we need to do more!

Last year we asked you to Bring Your Shopping Home for the Holidays. We encouraged you buy more products with the Made in the USA label and go to your local arts and craft fairs, farmers markets and holiday markets.  A year later are you turning over mugs in Starbucks looking for “Made in the USA?” Shopping on madeintheusa.com? Shopping at retailers supporting the Made in America movement?  These things encourage retailers to stock American made products because that is what consumers want. As we have written about in previous posts, Walmart listened to its customers and have now pledged $250billion to buy products made in America for resale in their stores.

While shopping a few weeks ago, I picked up a product that had a big Made in the USA label on it (picture below). This was a nice reminder that there are all kinds of American made products, big and small, across all price ranges. We just have to look for them, ask the retailers to stock these items, and then purchase them.

It’s going to take us all to make a difference. By buying Made in the USA products and supporting local business we encourage businesses to Bring Manufacturing Back to the US. This in turn, will bring jobs back; which will put more people to work in the manufacturing sector, build a stronger middle class and create a brighter future. It’s not only the right thing to do – it’s within our individual power to do it!

The holidays shouldn’t be the only time that you consider buying American made products or supporting your local business.  Join us in making it a common practice throughout the year. Up your game. Buy American.

We here at Blue Silk Consulting and the Reshoring Institute wish you and yours –

Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year!