When you buy products in retail stores or online, do you check first to see if the product was made in the USA? Does it matter to you if it wasn’t made in the US? For many consumers, this one simple difference in where the product is made makes all the difference on whether they’ll buy the product.
Many consumers feel that a product that is made in the USA is of a higher quality than a product that is made in China for less money and shipped back over to the States. As with any decision, there are advantages and disadvantages to making products in the US. But if you’re a business owner who’s trying to make this important decision, we have a few tips that can sway you toward making your products in America.
Job Creation
One of the easiest pros to see about making more products in the States is the creation of more jobs for American workers. Trade policies have both hurt and helped American job growth, as evident by the 5.7 million manufacturing jobs that were lost between 1998 and 2013. But by keeping many of the manufacturing jobs in America that many corporations send over to foreign countries, the number of available jobs in America could increase significantly.
Economic Boost
Not only does domestic manufacturing create more jobs in America, it can also add a significant boost to the economy. More jobs mean more workers making awesome products for consumers to buy. And happy consumers are more likely to keep buying and stimulating the economy. According to the Economic Policy Institute, every U.S. manufacturing job supports 1.4 additional jobs in other parts of the American economy. This adds a steady growth to the U.S. economy year after year.
Conservation
If you’re someone who cares about the conservation of natural resources and protecting the environment, then you might be interested in selling made in the USA products for that reason alone. Because of lax regulations in foreign countries (such as China and India), as well as the burning of fossil fuels used to transport goods across the ocean to the States, importing products often hurts the environment. Greenhouse gasses are continuously released into the atmosphere thanks in part to loose environmental regulations in those foreign countries. Manufacturing in America helps to reduce our carbon footprint thanks to EPA regulations.
Human Rights
Another big factor that can sway a business toward going American made products only is the human rights factor. Although this isn’t always the case, in many countries the rights of workers are vastly different than in the US. Instead of having strict laws that protect employees, many workers in poor and underdeveloped countries have to work in harsh conditions for long hours and little pay. Even in China, where much of our products are imported, the working conditions are inhumane, with workers spending 12 – 13 hours a day working and then spending the night sleeping in crowded and dirty dormitories with other workers. Child labor is also a big contributor to some overseas manufacturing plants and farms. You can check the International Labor Rights Forum’s website for more info on this subject.
As with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to selling Made in the USA products. As a business owner, you must make the decision yourself based on research, budget, and what works best for your business model.
For more on the wholesale vendors who supply Made In The USA products on our website, click here!
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