October 10, 2021: The Bigger Picture of Buying American-made Products
Small businesses provide the feeling that a real person is behind it all, someone who cares more about giving us a quality product or service, over just taking our hard-earned dollars.
– Annia Bukhman
This week our new Wonders of Wings calendars arrived. The company that we have chosen to print our cards and calendars is an American one. Their reputation for quality products is well earned and we were thrilled with the results. It’s a small company, but their commitment to excellence and superb customer service reinforces our decision every time. The price we pay is worth it and well earned.
Yet a recent conversation at a family gathering inspired reflection on the economic choices we make. The host of the dinner, a successful business man, questioned our choice for printing with a U.S. company. He shared a story of an author he knew, who found it “much cheaper” to print his book in China. The host extolled the “economic benefits” of printing it where it “cost cents on the dollar” and how it would “increase my profit margin.” He informed me that I wasn’t making a “good business choice”. My response was that while in the short term, it would be cheaper, I was looking at the bigger picture of buying American-made products. During the pandemic, we learned firsthand the benefits and consequences of both supporting and not supporting small businesses. Too many were closed, jobs lost and economies suffered, impacting communities and the families who lived there.
We need to keep our small businesses healthy in order to keep our economy strong.
– Keith Haynes
When we choose to support local and small businesses, we help to support our economy both locally and nationally. Buying American-made products is an essential part of boosting the national economy and supporting American jobs. Products might cost more initially than imported ones, but U.S. manufacturers have to follow labor laws and have higher standards for quality. In the United States, we have established regulations like child labor laws and OSHA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_Safety_and_Health_Administration which support fair and safe working conditions.
In addition, when we buy domestically, we are making an environmentally conscious choice as it helps to lower emissions and our carbon footprints are reduced. American manufacturers have to follow state and federal environmental regulations. Ultimately, in purchasing from American companies that produce domestically, we are supporting businesses that provide jobs in their communities. More jobs means more money is returned to local communities. Like a ripple in pond, the reaction leads to more investments in our communities, more tax revenues, and more job opportunities. Buying American-made also sends a message to manufacturers. If the demand for these goods is increased, it will encourage the manufacturing to stay in our country.
Every time you spend money you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.
– Anna Lappe
A local diner has a sign in its window, “Buy Local or Bye, Bye Local”. Whether it’s supporting our communities by shopping in small stores instead of large chain stores, or purchasing from companies who manufacture in the United States, we can help paint a better economic picture. By boosting local businesses, jobs are created, more money goes back into the communities, the economy is stimulated and overall, our reliance on oversea goods and national debt can be reduced,
We’ve become more reflective on what we buy, shop in local businesses whenever we can and are in turn grateful for ones who now carry our cards, calendars and jewelry. We also have chosen to support American companies when we buy the materials we need to create our jewelry. It’s become a matter of conscious choice of determining what kind of world do we want for our communities and our country. For us, while the cheaper option of buying from China was a practical one, we choose to focus on the bigger picture.
We thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to read our blog. Please feel free to comment and/or share with someone who might find it meaningful. In the meantime, here are some quotes to inspire supporting small businesses.
Best regards,
Wendy Oellers-Fulmer
A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in.
– Nicole Snow
If each of us spent 100$ a year more on local businesses instead of chain stores, it would put an extra $3 million a year into our economy, not only that but it would create thousands more jobs.
– Anonymus
If we want to have these amazing small businesses, we need to actively seek out and support those who put their necks on the line to chase down a dream. Sometimes it may be a bit faster to zip through the drive-through line, but I can almost guarantee that the personal service and higher quality product will be worth the extra minute it may take. It could be a lasting relationship that holds more value in the long run.
– Branch Street Coffee Roasters
Small businesses provide the feeling that a real person is behind it all, someone who cares more about giving us a quality product or service, over just taking our hard-earned dollars.
– Annia Bukhman
When you support handmade you are not just supporting a person, small business, family, our economy; you are purchasing a small part of an artist’s heart.
– Anonymus
