Buying American Made

More and more these days, people are looking to buy American made products. Some of the reasons cited are based on negativity- the recall of products made in China, etc. But there are lots of great, positive reasons to look for items made in America.

One reason is concern for environmental impact and the desire to leave a lighter footprint on our world. Many consumers wish to purchase locally, to avoid the carbon emissions used to transport goods around the world. In this way, buying American Made is similar to the local foods movement.
And just as many people like to know more about their food- where it came from, how it was grown- many people also like to know about other goods they buy- where it came from, how it was made, etc. This is information you can get whether you are looking at small handmade Etsy items or high-end furniture like Sticks.

American Made products are often very high in quality and workmanship. There are even some companies who produce their lower end products in Asian markets, while keeping their higher-end production here in the states. (New Balance shoes and Fender guitars are two examples.)
Sometimes an inexpensive imported product isn't really the deal it seems to be. When something performs better and lasts longer, it can be worth paying more for it.
And, of course, buying American supports jobs for people here in this country. So are we biased on this? You bet! We love being artisans and making a living at it. At Tin Woodsman, we are very proud of the fact that we provide good jobs with benefits for our small staff. We receive a “living wage,” we have health insurance, and on-site daycare. It's the kind of business we like to support, and that we're glad to be part of! So thank you to all who have ever purchased from us. (You rock!)

Here's a website where you can check out some American made products that you might not already be aware of: stillmadeinusa.com. And I'd like to feature some of our favorite Made in America companies here on this blog from time to time. Please leave a comment to let me know about any you love. I will be happy to look into them and maybe give them a mention in another post.