Buy American Mention of the Week

Get Your Patio Ready for Spring with American-Made Furniture and Accessories - Getting your patio ready for Spring can be as easy as making a trip to either Lowe’s or Home Depot, and practically everything can be found made in the USA. If you’re looking for patio furniture, both home-improvement stores have a good variety of made in USA selections. From simple and inexpensive to classy and pricey, you can choose patio furniture to fit your budget. (4/5/04)

Walgreen’s Joins Wal-Mart in Ditching Kodak for Fuji - Walgreen’s is officially kicking Kodak to the curb in favor of Japanese-owned Fuji. Kodak used to be the sole provider of photo-developing services to America’s largest drugstore chain, but now Walgreen’s has over 4,000 Fuji computer kiosks and 1,500 stores now use Fuji one-hour developing equipment. Wal-Mart switched to Fuji a few years ago saying “the sooner America realizes how American Fuji is, the better.” I suppose it would have been “better” for Wal-Mart. (2/1/04)

Small New York-based business thrives on quality leather goods - To many patriotic consumers, the thought of trying to buy leather goods made in the USA can bring on feelings of hopelessness. If you’ve checked labels at big name retailers such as Wilson’s – The Leather Experts, you’ve probably noticed that almost all of their products are made in China. The overwhelming majority of leather goods sold in America today are not made in America. Thankfully, there are American companies like Leather Artisan. (1/19/04)

Tell Furniture Retailers not to Boycott American-Made Furniture - Now is the time to make your voice heard to retailers like American Furniture Warehouse Company and Value City Furniture. Both companies have said they will no longer buy from furniture makers that have signed the so-called “anti-dumping petition” that, pending a favorable decision from the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission, could impose tariffs as high as 250% on Chinese-made furniture. (12/22/03)

This Could Be Your Made in USA Shopping List - As Christmas approaches, many patriotic consumers will no doubt fret about how to make their loved ones happy with the right gifts and keep themselves happy by remaining true to their values when making purchases at the same time. (12/7/03)

American Apparel Maker Kicks-Off “100% Made in USA” Campaign - Back in February of this year, I featured an American company that makes khakis right here in America and encouraged readers to “throw your Dockers away” since the Quantum Cotton Company claims they make the highest-quality and longest-lasting khakis available. (11/14/03)

Textiles, Competition and Efficiency - America’s struggling textile industry garnered wide attention fairly recently with the bankruptcy of Pillowtex Corp., which has resulted in the largest permanent layoff in North Carolina’s history. (11/4/03)

Buy American-Made and Spend Le$$ - Many patriotic consumers, me included until recently, have been under the impression that it’s impossible to buy American-made cartridges for their computer printers, for example. It’s one of those areas where those that want to buy American have just accepted that there isn’t an American-made alternative. (10/20/03)

Classic Leather Jackets – Made in the USA - Have you had trouble finding an American-made leather jacket to wear when you are atop your America-made Harley-Davidson or maybe just out for a night on the town? Make one visit to www.schottnyc.com and your search could be over.

Saving America's Footwear Industry, Part 2 - The response to the original "Saving America's Footwear Industry" article from ezine subscribers and regular visitors to the website chiming in with more American-made footwear brands was so overwhelming; I am compelled to write a follow-up article.

Making the All-American Picnic All American is Harder Than You Think - So you want to have the classic All-American Picnic or Bar-B-Que on July 4^th to celebrate America’s independence? Your grocery list probably includes hot dogs and apple pie, and maybe some cool ice cream for a hot, sunny day. (6/29/03)

Don’t Expect the Economy to “Bounce Back” in 2003 - Free trade economists keep repeating the same old lines. Last year about this time, they said the economy would bounce back in the second quarter. It didn’t happen. Now their saying the same thing for the second quarter of 2003, and Business Week says they are absolutely right this time. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Free traders could only wish to be so lucky. (6/22/03)

Traveling American Style - If you have had trouble finding American-made luggage, briefcases or laptop carriers like I have, look no further than Toughtraveler.com. This fine American company based in upstate New York designs and manufactures all their products in the USA, and they have been doing so since 1970. (6/12/03)

Now Women Can Have Their American-Made Shirts Too - Back on February 12, I featured PattonShirts.com as the Buy American Mention of the Week, and the result was a lot of positive responses by men who liked the American-made shirts for the "Man in Command." But what about the women? (5/26/03)

SARS epidemic should force focus on American alternatives - There’s no doubt about it. SARS has arrived. Not so much in America, but very much so in a major way in China. If the epidemic isn’t controlled soon, two things are likely to happen. First, prices will rise on many electronics items since most TVs, VCRs, DVD players and car stereos, etc. are made in China. Most toys are made in China too. It’s a simple process of supply and demand. Second, if the epidemic persists long enough for warehouse inventories to empty, American consumers will have to go without. (5/4/03)

It’s Globalization Payback Time for Domestic Furniture Makers - Furniture makers heavy with American workers on their payrolls are getting revenge on globalization these days. Call it "payback time." Furniture companies that have recently fired their American workers for low-cost wages in China are scrambling. (4/20/03)

Boycott France and BUY AMERICAN - South Carolina Calls for French Boycott, Then Backs Down Claiming France gave "aid and comfort to Saddam Hussein," the South Carolina State Legislature declared "it makes no sense to buy French products, goods and services." But the State Senate never acted on the legislation, claiming it would be counter-productive since French-owned Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin has factories in South Carolina. Nothing could be farther from the truth. (4/6/03)

The Perfect Compliment to American-Made Dress Shirts - Over the last few weeks, the Buy American Mention of the Week has featured two different casual and dress shirt companies that make their apparel in the USA. But where can you find American-made casual dress pants to compliment those American-made shirts? (3/2/03)

Patriotic Shirt Maker Competes Head to Head with Ralph Lauren, Land’s End - One industry where it is increasingly difficult to buy American made is the apparel industry. Popular high-quality shirt makers such as Ralph Lauren make none of their shirts in the United States. Others, such as Land’s End, make some of their shirts in the U.S., but can no longer guarantee your order will be filled with an American-made shirt even if you request one since both domestic and foreign factories make the same identical styles. It is solely for this reason that I don’t order from Land’s End anymore. (2/9/03)

Exactly the Reverse of What One Might Expect in the Toy Industry - Americans don’t have to choose from a long list of toys imported from Asia, because I’ve recently discovered a toy manufacturer that exports American-made toys to Asia instead.

All White Dress Shirts, All American Made - As dress shirt makers seem to gradually gravitate overseas, one company has stayed the course and kept their production in America. One company I used to order dress shirts from was Paul Frederick, but their shirts are now 100% made overseas. The number of American-made shirts where I buy all my American-made suits – The Men’s Wearhouse – seems to be dwindling. (1/27/03)

Domestic Furniture Company is a Bright Spot in a Hard-Hit Industry - If you’ve found it difficult to locate the American-made furniture you’ve been searching for, your search may be over after you read this article. (1/19/03)

A Buy American Strategy for Those Chinese Imports - Wait a minute! Can “Buy American” and “Chinese Imports” be used in the same sentence or headline? The answer is “yes.” Buying American is more than just about buying made in USA whenever possible. (1/13/03)

The Myth of the 2003 Economic Recovery - As many economists are now predicting a 2003 rebound of the U.S. economy, this author, who is neither an economist nor has an MBA, is predicting there will be no such economic recovery in 2003. Absent these sought-after academic honors - as former Fidelity Magellan Fund manager Peter Lynch once said about the success of a friend that never went to business school – “imagine all the lessons he never had to unlearn.” (1/6/03)

Oh What a Feeling – Toyota Outsells Chevrolet - Should America be concerned that Toyota is now selling more cars in the U.S. than Chevy, or that they are about to outsell Ford next year? The short answer is “yes.” Read on for the long answer. (1/2/03)

The “Everything’s Made in China” Myth - Everything is made in China these days, or at least that is what I keep hearing. I can formulate my response to this deceiving and tiring pessimism in one word – Globalony!(12/29/02)

Success of Steel Tariffs Should Shame Free Traders - President Bush may declare himself a free trade president, but his steel tariffs are a fine example of the successful work of a protectionist. The numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty for backers of trade liberalization beholden to economic textbook theory.

A Victory for Hershey is a Victory for America - The power of consumer-led, grass-roots petitioning shined in Hershey, Pennsylvania when the trust that controls the American candy maker’s fate voted 10-7 not to sell the company on September 17th. In the days of mega-mergers that have only slowed their dizzying pace because of a downshifting economy, this is fantastic news. (10/2/02)

Driving Through Flint, Michigan Must Be Easy on the Eyes - I’ve never been to Flint, Michigan, but I would love to at least drive though it. According to a recent Associated Press article, a whopping 96% of their citizens own or lease an American car. Driving is so much more pleasant when you are surrounded by smart people. How would I know if they are smart, you ask? Just look at what they are driving. (9/24/02)

Potential Sale of Hershey Proves Importance of Ownership - Not since British-owned Cadbury Schweppes PLC teamed up with French-owned Groupe Danone SA to make a bid for Nabisco earlier this year has such a large, traditional American company been at risk of being acquired by a foreign company. Fortunately, American-owned Kraft was able to outbid the foreign alliance and keep American assets American. (9/2/02)

Stanley Backs Away From Bermuda - It appears there is some sanity in a post-September 11 world after all. Stanley Works, after taking the heat from about every conceivable corner for their tax-avoidance scheme to re-incorporate in Bermuda, has finally backed off. Both the U.S. Congress and consumers questioned the patriotism of the proposed move. (8/4/02)

It’s Time to Turn Up the Heat on the U.S. Senate - It’s time to turn up the heat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to convince these Senators to consider HR 725, the Made in America Information Act! Over 160 online petitions have been printed and mailed to the ranking Democrat on this committee - Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings. (7/12/02)

The Giant Sucking Sound in Reverse - According to the June 22, 2002 issue of the Atlanta Constitution, American-owned candy cane maker Bobs Candies is closing down operations in Tijuana, Mexico. A total of 40 jobs will be added to the existing Albany, GA plant as a result, which brings the total number of workers there to over 250. (7/7/02)

More Foreign Companies Avoid U.S. Taxes - I have long argued that one of the primarily-overlooked areas of the “Buy American” picture is that foreign companies operating in the United States don’t pay their share of funding the costs of the American government. This means less money is available for Social Security, public schools, Medicare, Medicaid, police and fire protection, as well as funding for the military, national security and the war on terrorism. (6/17/02)

What’s On Tap? - Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And friends don’t let friends have their favorite beer flow from a foreign made tap either! As we continue to come at the Buy American issue from just about every conceivable angle, another easily overlooked category is the beer tap industry. (5/27/02)

Racks and Stuff - I couldn’t think of a better title for the Buy American Mention of the Week this week since www.racksandstuff.com happens to be the name of the featured website. On this website, you’ll find all kinds of home, office and garden products – all handmade and 100% American made. (5/20/02)

Vermont Teddy Bears - If you are like many patriotic consumers, the mere thought of buying a stuffed toy or animal is depressing since it is almost guaranteed to be made in China. But there is a way to get quality stuffed teddy bears that are hand-made right here in the USA. Go to vtbear.com for a wide assortment of specialty bears made for a variety of occasions. (5/13/02)

Protectionism and Prosperity Shines Through Harley-Davidson - In the 1980’s, President Ronald Reagan slapped a 50% tariff on Japanese motorcycle imports, sheltering Harley-Davidson from competition for five years so they could become more productive and efficient. Before the five years were up, Harley was exporting to Japan. (5/5/02)

Preserving Petroleum Independence - America is slowly surrendering its ability to control the petroleum it offers to the American motorist. American petroleum companies have been snatched up by foreign companies with great vigor in the last few years, but the recent proposed acquisition of Pennzoil-Quaker State gives the merger mania a new twist. (4/15/02)

Buy American at the Beach - Few American industries have struggled as much as the footwear industry, yet a few shining examples of American determination prevail. New Balance still makes about 30% of its shoes here, so no consumer patriot should be caught strolling with Made in China Reebok’s or Nike’s. (4/8/02)

Get Ready to Sign the Buy American Petition! - The time has come for the Senate to stop ignoring the Made in America Information Act. Crafted by Representative James Traficant, Jr., HR 725, if passed by the Senate, would set up a toll-free line consumers can call to find out which products are American made. (3/25/02)

Who Said the American TV Industry Was Dead? - One of the most difficult areas where Americans have trouble buying American is in the electronics industry. Televisions in particular are especially tough to find made in the USA. A few years back, I bought a General Electric TV that was made in Indiana. Back in 1995, one of my brothers bought a Bell & Howell TV from Montgomery Ward that was made in the USA. (3/18/02)

Protectionism Lives Through Steel - It seems that every professed free-trade president in recent memory has flirted in some way with protectionist policies, yet George W. Bush has come out with one of the biggest tariffs, maybe not in terms of percentage, but arguably one of the most significant in terms of industry and its relation to both economic and national security. (3/11/02)

Efficiency and Guacamole Economics - Economics normally teaches us that efficiency is a good thing to advocate, but as we have seen in some of the bad trade deals the U.S. has negotiated with other countries, efficiency can bring its share of negative consequences. (3/4/02)

Where is Stanley's Red, White and Blue? - It appears that the American worker and American consumer are not the only ones over-taxed in America. Apparently some American corporations feel they are paying too many taxes as well. According to a recent New York Times article, the trend of multinational corporations moving their headquarters to tax-friendly Bermuda is catching fire. (2/25/02)

Writing American - As further evidence that buying American does not just apply to big-ticket items, America could be in danger of losing the pencil industry unless patriotic consumers raise their awareness. In 1991, just 16% of all pencils came from overseas. Today, however, almost half of the pencils bought by Americans come from overseas. (2/18/02)

Greater Competition from China? - Until recently, most patriotic Americans' concerns of communist China were military build-up and the overwhelming flood of imports. By the U.S. government's own statistics of 20,000 lost jobs for every billion dollars of trade deficits, our China trade would lay off at least the entire city of Jacksonville, Florida. (2/11/02)

Bucking the Trend of Big Mergers - In an era of ever-increasing globalization, few companies seem to find it in their best interest to deny the urge to merge, and are willing to counter the conventional wisdom that bigger is better. One company that has opted for the rarely seen go-it-alone strategy is Oneida, Ltd., one of the most recognized makers of silverware and tableware. (2/4/02)

American only by name? - As many people already know, or are just now finding out, “Buying American” is much harder than it seems. In addition to looking at products hoping to find “Made in USA” on the package or tag, an untold number of consumers often fall back on how “American” a brand name might sound. (1/28/02)

White House Brands - Since the events of September 11, and the subsequent increase in nationalistic patriotism, some companies are beginning to make known which of their products are made in USA. It's not that we weren't hoping they would have a long time ago, but some companies have long been on record for doing this, and still others distance themselves from the pack by going a step further. (1/21/02)

Cooper Tire Company - If you are searching for an All-American company that makes everything it sells to the U.S. market with U.S. workers, look no further than Cooper Tire. Cooper, along with Goodyear, is one of the two remaining American tire companies left. (1/14/02)

The "Joe Smith" E-Mail - After receiving several copies of the "Joe Smith" email, instead of simply replying to the senders saying "thank you, but I have seen this before," I decided to respond in a way that would tell people just where we stand in our manufacturing capability for the items listed below. I wasn't able to answer every item completely (I am still not sure about those electric skillets) but here is the email, and my response. (1/7/02)

Walmart - This week’s Buy American Mention isn’t as “Buy American” as most of us would like to think or hope. It appears that Wal-Mart is at it again, and although many people tell me that Wal-Mart would be a great place to market my forthcoming second edition of How Americans Can Buy American, I refuse to cater to this company, whose Buy American campaign is, for the most part, a sham. (12/28/01)

Dan River, Inc. - This week’s mention goes to Dan River, Inc. Dan River is a sheet and fabric maker headquartered in Danville, VA. On December 13, the company announced they were closing two plants in the U.S. and transferring operations to other locations. Where are they transferring the jobs to? Right here in America! (12/22/01)