As we continue to focus on growing our U.S. manufacturing, we also like to support and celebrate other American-made brands and resources.\u00a0 For our first post, I\u2019d like to share one of our favorite resources for finding top-quality, American-made products:\u00a0 USA Love List.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Sarah Wagner, Founder of USALoveList.com<\/p><\/div>\n
This week, I spoke with the founder of USALoveList.com, Sarah Wagner, about her company and her advice for buying American.<\/p>\n
Q:\u00a0 Sarah, why did you launch USALoveList.com? <\/b><\/p>\n
A:\u00a0 I started USA Love List after taking a road trip with my family to Forest City, Iowa, to visit the Winnebago factory where our RV was made.\u00a0 The company was beloved locally, with many second-generation workers who took great pride in their jobs.\u00a0 I started to think about how happy people were in this small town, and how it was thriving thanks to Winnebago.\u00a0 Unlike residents in many other small cities, people didn\u2019t have to move away to find jobs, and they could stay near friends and family and help build a healthy community.<\/p>\n
Also, I grew up in Detroit, and my first job out of college was selling cars, so buying American was always important to me.\u00a0 I sold cars near the GM plant, and plant workers were constantly coming in to buy the cars they helped to build.\u00a0 It was a sustainable economy.<\/p>\n
I noticed how people will go out of their way to buy \u201cgreen\u201d products because they realize the negative effect certain ingredients can have on the environment.\u00a0 I wanted to help Americans realize the positive effects buying American could have on the country overall, and the environment.\u00a0\u00a0 I realized this was something on which I could take action and make a difference.<\/p>\n
Q:\u00a0 Why do you think USALoveList.com has been so well received?<\/b><\/p>\n
A:\u00a0 Many online resources exist to help people find American-made products, and they all have different personalities.\u00a0 My idea was to launch an online woman\u2019s magazine, with features like, \u201cTop 5 Mascaras to Try this Fall,\u201d but to have all the mascaras be U.S. made.\u00a0 Our features are on U.S.-made products we truly recommend versus general product listings. That\u2019s why our tagline is \u201cStuff We Love.\u201d And we try to create listings that make shopping easier for our readers.\u00a0 We think, if I were buying x-mas presents or redoing a bathroom, how would I want to shop?\u00a0 I\u2019ve organized the site by how I\u2019d like to find made-in-America items.<\/p>\n
Q:\u00a0 What are some misconceptions about buying American?\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
A:\u00a0 Some people believe American-made = more expensive, but that\u2019s not always the case.\u00a0 Plenty of items made in the U.S. are the same price.\u00a0 I can go to Target and Walmart, and point out many U.S.-made products that are just as affordable.<\/p>\n
Q:\u00a0 Any advice on how people can determine if products are made in America? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
While shopping, look for those three words every time:\u00a0 \u201cMade in America.\u201d\u00a0 If you can\u2019t find a U.S.-made option, still look at its country of origin and make a conscious decision based on what you know about the manufacturing practices there.<\/p>\n
Once you start looking for those three words, it becomes an obsession.\u00a0 You\u2019ll start to get a good feel for which products are U.S. made, and which aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Moms of young kids:\u00a0 A great way to keep your kids busy while you shop is to have them help you by searching the shelves to look for those magic words.<\/p>\n
Q: <\/b>\u00a0Are there certain types of products you recommend people buy here? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
While it\u2019s great to buy all USA-made goods, there are many categories with so many great American-made options, there\u2019s no reason to buy anything else.<\/p>\n
Pet products:<\/b> There\u2019s nothing you\u2019ll need for your pets (dog beds, toys, food, pet shampoo) that you can\u2019t easily find from American companies. When it comes to pet products, imports are not well regulated, meaning you can\u2019t be sure the safety of the pet food.<\/p>\n
Toiletries and Cosmetics<\/b>: Most major cosmetics manufacturers \u2013 Mabelline, Cover Girl, etc. \u2013 offer U.S.-made products.\u00a0 You just have to look at packaging to learn which are domestically made.<\/p>\n
Foods: <\/b>Many food products are made in America. \u00a0And anything I feed my kids, I want to make sure it\u2019s made in the USA.<\/p>\n
Gifts:<\/b>\u00a0 With gift buying, you have so much flexibility to find something special and memorable that\u2019s also made here.\u00a0 Typically, with gifts, you have enough time to plan ahead to pick the right item.<\/p>\n
However if your kid specifically wants an iPod, he\u2019s not going to be happy with the American made alternative.\u00a0 However, you can still support American companies because several manufacture iPod accessories:\u00a0 cases, speakers and more.<\/p>\n
Q:\u00a0 Any tips for finding Made in America products online?<\/b><\/p>\n
A:\u00a0 Simple Google searches are great if you have a product in mind.\u00a0 You can search \u201cfaucets made in America,\u201d and Google will present you with several options.<\/p>\n
When you go to retailer websites, you can also perform the same search.\u00a0 For some retailers like Nordstrom and Anthropologie (which both do a great job of labeling country of origin), you can simply search \u201cKitchen knives USA\u201d to get a list of options.\u00a0 On USALoveList.com, the websites listed in our \u201cShopping District\u201d section are the ones that make it easy to find American-made goods.<\/p>\n
Thank you to Sarah for taking the time to share some wonderful insights with us.<\/p>\n
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