It came to my attention recently that I have spent a little too much time talking about the importance of buying American and not enough about how to actually do it. Well, let me rectify that. Here’s how I find and buy the things I need American-made.
The first thing you need is a website that you can use to find American-made versions of the things you will be buying. The website I use for this purpose is: www.AmericansWorking.com.
I really can’t express how useful this website has been to me. It has hundreds of products all organized by product category. In my experience, I have been able to find the vast majority of things I have been looking to buy through this website. I recommend saving it as a favorite location in your web browser, and going there whenever you are considering making a purchase. A link to this website is also featured on the Buy American Challenge homepage, so you can find a link to this website by coming to this blog.
Once you know you are looking to buy a certain item (a pair of jeans for example), you go to www.AmericansWorking.com and find what you are looking for on the product directory located on the main page. Under a link called “Apparel Made in the USA,” you can select from specific categories of American-made clothing including: women’s clothes, men’s clothes, children’s clothes, jackets, jeans, leather wear, motorcycle clothes, and work wear and uniforms. Select one of these, and you will be led to a list of American-made brands and online vendors that sell American-made brands of clothes. You can either use the online vendors to buy what you are looking for right then, or you can make a note of the brands that are made in the U.S.A. and look for those products at stores in your area or elsewhere online.
I think you will find that buying American is actually very easy, and it actually doesn’t cost more than it would to go to your local mall or department store. In fact, I have saved money since I started buying American because I always find good deals and I rarely make wasteful impulse purchases anymore.
To continue my example of buying a pair of blue jeans, once I selected “Apparel Made in the USA,” I selected “Men’s Clothes Made in USA.” I then chose a vendor called All USA Clothing. This company is based in West Bloomfield, Michigan and has been in business since 1970 and they specialize in clothing made in the U.S.A. I was able to find a really nice pair of jeans for $34.99. Shipping at this website is free. That’s a pretty good deal.
This is the way I make a lot of my purchases, especially for items that I know will be difficult to find made in the U.S.A.
I have chronicled a lot of my American-made purchases on this blog over the last several months, but the following are just a sample of the things I have bought this year which are made in the U.S.A.: Clothes, shoes, ties, a baseball cap, winter accessories, furniture, all my groceries (with a few exceptions for things simply not grown in the U.S.A., like bananas), GNC supplements, coffee beans (Kona coffee), beer, wine, cigars (rolled in Miami), home goods, bottled water, a shower-head, razor, tools, flashlight, batteries, office supplies, candles, etc. The list goes on and on. All of it has been American-made.
I hope this little explanation of how I buy American will be useful to you. Please let me know if you have any difficulty locating American-made versions of the products you are looking for. I’ll be happy to help you locate them.
Until next time, here’s to doing what we can to support our country by buying American.
Randy
P.S. If you are looking for a great American made clothing brand, check out Made in USA Threads!
Thank you for this, Randy, I will definitely bookmark that website. It’s so frustrating trying to find American products in the stores.
I’m all for buying American but in terms of jobs, I have a problem buying online. This will shut down local businesses and cost jobs. More on-line shopping means less stores. The less stores in the area the less jobs available. I want to do both, buy American made and shop in stores, where people in my area have jobs running the store and waiting on customers but most stores do not carry American made.
Carol,
Glad I could help. You’re right about buying American being frustrating sometimes. That’s why if you want to do it, you have to become comfortable with buying things online. Some things are just too difficult to find American made in some areas, especially if your community has limited options for shopping. Thanks for buying American. Please spread the word.
Randy
Oh, I buy things online all the time, that’s not a problem. It’s those things you need right away, that you can’t shop online for. Also clothes, I like to try them on first because you can never tell how they’re going to fit. Oh well, anyway, I’ll try to plan ahead more so I can buy American online. Take care.
Hey, if there is a certain product that you just can’t buy American, like clothes sometimes, don’t sweat it. Do the best you can, but if it can’t really be done to your liking (i.e. without trying them on first), then don’t worry about it. The key is to not give up on buying American alltogether. A couple “cheat” items are necessary sometimes to keep folks on a buy American program. Buying American should be fun, not torture.
Randy
I am trying to find a floor bathroom digital scale made in the USA. I have been at it for two days with no avail.
Can you help?
I am about read to give up.
Thanks,
Rita
I just took the Buy American challenge and have been doing some research and I have found that this is not going to be an easy transition……but I am committed. While this website gives some extremely useful information, there is still a huge amount of research required for purchasing a product. It would be ideal if we could start a “movement” promoting online vendors to specify on their websites which country each item/product is from to allow for simplified “Buy American” consumer shopping. A little US flag next to each item that is American made would be ideal for me…….but then again….I do recall an old expression “if it’s too easy, then it’s probably not worth it” and our great United State of America is definitely worth it! So, let the hard work begin!
It’s nice to see there are some Americans who still believe in fellow Americans work, rather it be commerce or services. I have been a firm believer in buying Made in America products for the last 20+ years, and today, more than ever we need to find, and buy everything we can that are made in America.
Tim
Warren County, Va.
I get so frustrated when I’m buying clothing and it’s ALL made everywhere but in the USA. I have not been able to find a single store in my area that sells American clothing. That’s shameful!!
I, too, need to try things on before buying so I can’t by online. Is there a state-by-state listing somewhere that tells me where I can buy American? If not, maybe somebody should be compiling one? It should not be this difficult to do this.
Karen in Rhode Island
Karen,
I feel the same way, I want to buy american made so bad, but do not have one item of clothing made in the USA. Today that changes, I bought a made in america pair of jeans and while I was at it bought tee shirts also. My first items made in America ( I hope they fit !! ) But like you said how about suppliers in our home states that offer products made in the good old USA!
I agree with all who lamented to the difficulty of finding American made clothing that we can try on! How can we prevail upon retailers to identify American Made products? Shopping to benefit America should be user (consumer) friendly but it appears to be just the opposite. Grocery & personal care shopping demands a magnifying glass in order to locate American made products. I think the old adage is that if you complain about something, you need to also offer a soution, but alas…..I don’t have one!
Thanks for all the good articles Randy! I have been researching a business concept for the past 16 months of made in THe USA products $5.00 and Below. I have found many products in fact excited and hoping to launch my new business soon (waiting on the financing part) My question for you is there are many links for consumers however as a business I am wondering are there any information links to Made in THe USA for businesses (wholesalers) who wish to supply their stores with Made in The USA products? I did contact a few which I wont name that actually denied me a wholesale account stating that my store would not be large enough to qualify for a wholesale account..I live in a small town and the proposed location is only 1500 sq feet.
I also posted a video on you tube (Market Research) and trying to network with consumers and other businesses that focus on Made in THe USA products to create a resource for people… because I want it to be effortless for people to buy made in The USA..the past 6 months has been time consuming just trying to find Made in The USA products… not to mention as we all know people do like to feel, touch and see what we they are buying not to mention alot of people want the instant gratification..they want the item in their hand right there as soon as they pay for it…and there are alot of impulse buyers out there as well. Not to mention its very time consuming to look at the countless choices presented to us as consumers to look at every tag to see where it is made,and for so long so many people dont really think about it and although there are some who are more conscious of it now, there are still those who just dont want to take the time nor dont have the time
Anyhow I have taken on the Made in THe USA challenge both personnally and through my new business venture, its important not just in my community but also everywhere, I feel its my duty to support the country I live in…Sorry I digressed a little bit lol from the original question, any information links to Made in THe USA for businesses (wholesalers) who wish to supply their stores with Made in The USA products?
Thanks!
have a Safe and Blessed Day
I recently bought some made in USA clothing under the Reba (McIntyre) label at Dillard’s. Some of her clothes are made in China, but there was a good selection of USA made.
I have saved so much money by not buying crap I don’t need specifically because it’s not made in the US. I’ll go to pick something up in a store that catches my eye…then I think “Is this made in the US?”…If it’s not I put it back and usually 100% of the time I’m glad I didn’t spend the money!! I am becoming obsessed with this. It feels so good to support our own people and our own country.
I am trying to find a tea kettle for a solid surface stove top that is made in the USA. Can you help me, Please?
Meg,
Check out http://www.qflea.com and send Charley and email with your request. Specify that it must be made in America as QFLEA does have members outside the US but there are hundreds of online stores associated with QFLEA and you might just be able to find that tea kettle
for all the folks looking to buy American, consider your local craft fairs and festivals. Here is just a sampling of some of the American made products you caqn find at these shows as well as through the craftsman’s online store: leather goods, pottery, stoneware, quilts,and quilted table accessories, hand knit and crocheted sweaters, scarves hats and other wearables, candles, natural bath and beauty products, window coverings, wood furnishings, toys, jewelry, hand made journals, etc.
I live in New York State and we have a group known as New York Crafters. Our members all make what they sell. We have a directory that is set up by category so people can jump right to the category to search for what they want: http://www.newyorkcrafters.com/community.htm
For the person looking for a tea kettle you might try submitting a request at http://www.QFLEA.com. Make sure to specify that you are looking for an American made tea kettle because Q@FLEA does have members outside the USA.
I am starting to buy American, one thing I noticed is that though there are some clothing geared towards a younger crowd it is still slim pickens for the 25 yr old and younger group. I think that once a younger crowd is the targeted there will be a surge in americans buying american. Granted younger americans need to step up and start these companies, I hope the american youth takes notice and help make america strong again.
Drew, This is a young guy targeting a younger crowd with his clothing line. He’s just starting out, but heye, let’s support him!
http://www.readsclothingproject.com/
Thanks for the post.
Randy
Seriously Randy!! I wish you luck in your business but at the prices I saw I don’t think the average American can afford it.
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Made in America Broadcast Network™ will only accept products and services that are at least 90% made in America. Made in America Broadcast Network™ believes that by limiting our advertisers to products and services Made In America, with American made materials, this will help American companies grow and prosper by the network making American’s more aware of what American companies are out there. Because of our size, we can offer a price that you can afford and will give you national exposure reaching hundreds of thousands.
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A popular line of pet toys proudly displays their logo, “AMERICAN CLASSIC”, in large lettrers on the front of their packaging. I was looking at one of their items (a stuffed squirrel) and the back side of the package shows “MADE IN CHINA”. The corporate website appears to be http://www.jakks.com.
I have been an advocate for buying American made products for several years, telling everyone to buy American. One of the comments above was saying how hard it is to find local stores that sell American made products. Recently, I have started going to the customer service desk and asking if they carry USA made products. I have been told “no Americans just need to get smarter and invent things” (?!?!?) to “you know, I don’t think we do. That’s horrible isn’t it?” Maybe if we all start requesting USA made products, the stores will get the idea. I even have started checking food. I realize some food must be imported and I don’t have a problem with that. I, however, will stand in the aisle, be the grocery, department store, Home Depot, talking out loud about how everything is made in China. I know people probably think I’m nuts, but I don’t care. When an employee comes by and asks if I’m finding everything, I tell them no, nothing is made in America. I want my country back and I want us to be strong again.
Wow, Sandy sounds like me. I do the same thing, ask for products in the stores. I need a juicer made in the USA. Can anyone help me with a resource? Ms V
Ms V
You might try Kitchenaid. They are made in Greenville Ohio. I checked their website and they do have juicers. Good luck.
Whoops! Sorry I just looked again and it actually was a page that opened up to Sears and has other juicers. Kitchenaid does have food processors; don’t know if that helps.
Check out the “IntraNationalMall.com” site. Everything on the site is made in the US and a lot of it comes from cottage industries.
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