By: Daniel Nardini
Yes, it is that time of year when companies send their latest printed catalogs. Even though many companies now use the Internet for showing their products, many companies still find the printed catalog as one of the best means to sell their products to the American public. Once of course the printed catalog was king, but it is still a prince for selling all kinds of products not always available in stores. This year I have noticed something new. More and more printed catalogs are beginning to list products with the label “Made in USA.” This label has been popping up in more catalogs than I have seen in the last ten years. Before, catalogs did not list where products were made. All they cared about was selling products in great quantities and as cheaply as possible.
But within the last two years there has been a change. Now a growing number of catalogs are labeling those products “Made in USA” which was not true before. I have been seeing this phenomenon happening on the Internet before this. Why is this happening now? It can only point to a clear new trend—more people are consciously buying products made in America, or not made in China. I can give a number of reasons why this is happening. Many people do not like the poor quality of the products made in China. Some are appalled by China’s work and human rights record. Others are afraid that products made in China may be outright poisonous and can do harm (especially true of toys three to four years ago). But I suspect the main reason why this trend to buy goods made in America is growing is because many people are thinking “the next job I may save may be my own.”
This is not without foundation. If a factory closes, then this affects distributors who were dependent on selling the products from those companies put out of business. It means that stores are equally affected if products they have traditionally been selling are no longer available and no real substitute can be found (or rather, most consumers will not buy the same product produced overseas). What we are seeing is that a growing number of people are making a conscious effort to buy products made in this country to not only protect their health and have safer products, but to help America’s manufacturing sector survive. The catalog companies are now playing their part in this patriot game. I can only hope that the politicians will follow suit.
Patriotism in the Catalog Industry
By: Daniel Nardini
But within the last two years there has been a change. Now a growing number of catalogs are labeling those products “Made in USA” which was not true before. I have been seeing this phenomenon happening on the Internet before this. Why is this happening now? It can only point to a clear new trend—more people are consciously buying products made in America, or not made in China. I can give a number of reasons why this is happening. Many people do not like the poor quality of the products made in China. Some are appalled by China’s work and human rights record. Others are afraid that products made in China may be outright poisonous and can do harm (especially true of toys three to four years ago). But I suspect the main reason why this trend to buy goods made in America is growing is because many people are thinking “the next job I may save may be my own.”
This is not without foundation. If a factory closes, then this affects distributors who were dependent on selling the products from those companies put out of business. It means that stores are equally affected if products they have traditionally been selling are no longer available and no real substitute can be found (or rather, most consumers will not buy the same product produced overseas). What we are seeing is that a growing number of people are making a conscious effort to buy products made in this country to not only protect their health and have safer products, but to help America’s manufacturing sector survive. The catalog companies are now playing their part in this patriot game. I can only hope that the politicians will follow suit.