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Made in America...

12 years ago

Has anyone else tried to do the Made in America challenge this Christmas?

It has really been an eye-opener for me, but I was able to get nearly 80% of my holiday gifts this year from American made sources.

There's a pretty comprehensive list of American made companies on ABC News website. I hope they either leave it up for a long time or even permanently. I like to try to keep my dollars in America all year, not just for the holidays and the list really helps!

The hardest thing to find for me was toys for Zoe. So many toys, so many foreign manufacturers! LOL

Happy Holidays!

Linda

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Comments (8)

mustangs81
12 years ago
I tried it for Easter--I didn't have the success that you did; but Easter stuff is smaller/cheaper. I find it really frustrating-both the challenge of finding American made products and the reasons behind the outsourcing/off-shoring.
ritaotay
12 years ago
Holiday gifts??? It's becoming nearly impossible to find food grown or raised in the USA let alone gifts.

Rita
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Thanks, everyone. Most of the inventory at my parent's shop is Amish-made wood case goods, but I think they did go to High Point years ago when they first got into the business. Going to High Point has been on my wish list for awhile now and would be possible to register with the family shop, but unfortunately I'm nursing an injury that makes walking it impossible right now. Hopefully next year! I like the idea of Lee, but online reviews seem mixed. We did try to get an account with Lee a few years ago, but given the business they do locally through a professional interior designer they were not interested... Not sure if the real reason could have been that the store doesn't have a modern look given the base of business is Amish goods and so they maybe didn't match their target style, but the customers like quality so I thought it'd be a good fit to introduce upholstery on the floor. I'm kind of surprised by so many company names to choose from when looking through old GW forum threads (I started a spreadsheet to try and keep them straight), but it seems like there isn't a clear front runner for reliable (consistent positive reviews) of high quality, hardwood base, 8-way hand tied, great cushions, etc. Or am I missing it?
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centralcacyclist
12 years ago
I gave my kids cash. That's still made here, right?
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
12 years ago
Posted by barnmom "I gave my kids cash. That's still made here, right? "

Not really. The cash you spend may not be yours.

As of December 15, 2011 the gross USA debt is $15.098 trillion, and the largest single holder of U.S. government debt is China.

It is very upsetting to see the US made stuff on ABC TV's list. Take toys for instance, we make wood blocks, while imported toys are remote control, multi-channel CPU driven, lipo-ion powered inertia guidance stabilized flying machines.

We must encourage our children to study engineering and manufacturing, we don't need more lawyers and financial crackerjacks.

dcarch
goldgirl
12 years ago
I was thinking the same thing the other night when DH and I wandered into a Five Below store. All I could think was just what people need, more cheap carp from China to fill up the house and eventually the landfill because most of it probably gets trashed anyway. And no, I didn't buy anything ;)

Sue
KatieC
12 years ago
I mostly shopped craft fairs and locally owned shops this year. There's a young woman who makes great goat's milk soap and lotions, and the best coconut oil and beeswax lip balm. Everyone at work got her lotion and Chubby Chaps (like fat chapstick). She delivered it when she brought her kids to Story Time...how easy was that?

The kids are getting a Peterboro basket filled with stuff for their new house. Local-made wooden spoons, candles, pottery, nylon net scrubbies (they are the best!), some goofy Christmas potholders, dressing/dip mixes, a leaded glass snowflake to hang in a window, and some killer peanut brittle dipped in white chocolate. And a ceramic knife that I'm sure was made in China...but hey, you do the best you can.

And since I know DH is shopping challenged, I bought myself some nice handmade earrings.
nicoletouk
12 years ago
"And a ceramic knife that I'm sure was made in China...but hey, you do the best you can."

Hey, maybe not. Kyocera makes great ceramic knives and they are made in Japan.

Nicole
Lars
12 years ago
Everyone only gave one present at our Christmas, and my gift was a hand-carved wooden puzzle box in the shape of a sea turtle that I bought on Maui, and it was locally made using local wood. The furniture that I design is also made in the USA, and a lot of it gets exported to Europe, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. We still make airplanes in this country, as well as movies and entertainment.

Lars

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