Made By Yankees

Consider your values when buying Made in USA
Why we buy “Made in USA”
Personal Values
Quality
A word on Loyalty
Loyalty Day

Why we buy “Made in USA”
We search for American made products for many reasons. Perhaps, we are concerned with the safety of our families, children, and pets. Perhaps, we know Union workers who we would like to support. Maybe, we believe purchasing USA will help keep the economy strong. Perhaps, there are political agendas. The motivation for some may be to save the ozone by reducing shipping. Maybe, one just wants to be loyal to their country. The reason why is really not important. What is important is that we have the correct information to make informed decisions. The correct information is that there are a lot of American made products. But, purchasing will become a more selective process which will ultimately need to be made through different sources such as on-line, mail orders, and phone orders.
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Personal Values
Personal values and factors need to be concerned as buying a Made in USA product is not a clear black and white decision. Aside from the FTC definition of Made in the USA, will you buy only products where the raw materials are domestic? Can a certain percent of the material or parts be imported? Is it considered American made if the parts are imported and assembly occurs in the USA? Does distribution count? After all, distribution companies employ Americans. Will you purchase the products of foreign owned companies as long as they are assembled in USA?
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Quality
The last consideration is value. If value is defined as affordability and quality, yes the products are available. Do you want to buy the cheap retail store sandals that will only last the summer or pay double or even triple to get sandals that will last ten years? It’s pretty simple, you get what you pay for. Shop wisely.
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A Word on Loyalty
Social and cultural loyalties evolved as devotion for one’s family and friends. It comes most naturally amongst small groups where the prospect of being caste out seems like the ultimate, unthinkable rejection. (Retrieved from Wikipedia on 9/9/07).

Loyalty became a tool for governents when the concept was used to foster allegiance by states and later nations. (Retrieved from Wikipedia on 9/9/07).

Loyalty in business has also been used for years. The newest trend is “Branding” which is essentially a packaged marketing tool. Branding allows consumers to identify with companies, designs, values, quality, cost and other important purchasing considerations to create customer recognition and loyalty. (Retrieved from Wikipedia on 9/9/07).
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Loyalty Day
Did you know Loyalty Day is an official holiday observed on May 1st in the United States? The purpose is reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States. It was first observed in 1921. Batavia, Illinois still celebrates with parades and ceramonies. Each year the President must issue a Loyalty Day proclomation.. (Retrieved from Wikipedia on 9/9/07).
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