What Can We Do?
November 19th, 2007
There are lots of reasons to care about products being made in the USA. For example, jobs, America’s future, product safety, foreign worker exploitation, a cleaner environment, etc.
We can change things. We can make a real difference. I have worked in corporations for 15 years, and understand that executives are a lot more sensitive to bad PR than one would think. The company seems like a monolith, but managers may end up having to go home and explain to their friends and family why they are moving jobs overseas. It is about sales, but it is also about being seen as a leader in the community. That’s a big part of not just their view of their own reputation, but also key in getting the next fat contract.
If, for example, you hear that a major US chocolate producer is considering moving production to Mexico, tell them about your concerns. Senior executives get a lot less mail than you might realize, so if they suddenly start getting twenty letters a day on a topic, it’s a nightmare. Heaven forbid these folks start writing to newspapers, or standing up at shareholder meetings, etc.
As long as the executives feel customers don’t really care, some will ship jobs abroad all day long. However, when they realize folks care, and are watching, believe me they will become righteous.
Stores, even big ones, have to care about customer suggestions/complaints, as long as they understand customers have alternatives and are willing to pursue those alternatives. For example, if a local merchant is more sensitive to the Made in USA issue than the local mega-mart, but the mega-mart is somewhat cheaper, we have to be willing to sometimes spend more. It does no good to say “Hey Mega-Mart, I don’t like that this item is made in China and could contain toxic materials, but it is $10 cheaper, so I will take three.”
Let’s just keep in mind that the cashiers at the Mega-Mart don’t set policy, so there is no point in being mean to them. We need to at least catch a manager.
Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 3:26 amand is filed under Uncategorized.
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Thank you for what you are doing. Made in USA is going to mean more this year than in recent years and when the holiday shopping season is over we will see it. We need more powerful media and mainstream websites that get it.
I am now looking for others to join in with you and companies like Texas Jeans making and selling American made USA Brands and products. If something
should ever shut down the ports for any reason in this country for more than a day we would see stores like Walmart to Macys running out of merchandise. How about things like Pajamas to basic underwear. There is very few if any factories left making many products that American’s use and need everyday. It would be a wake up American Day, lets hope it does not happen, but in the meantime lets think about how we can support the good companies that are all about USA made.
Buy made in the USA + UNION made products.USA is self supporting. we can make it happen .we need to keep what jobs we have in the USA in the USA..