'Made in the USA' Making a Comeback

[HALLGATOR]

Good to see more American products being bought which in turn helps generate more jobs here at home.

A curious thing is happening among American shoppers. More people are taking a moment to flip over an item or fish for a label and ask, is it "Made in the USA?"

Mast, File)Walmart (WMT), the nation's largest retailer, earlier this year announced it will boost sourcing of U.S. products by $50 billion during the next 10 years. General Electric (GE) is investing $1 billion through 2014 to revitalize its U.S. appliances business and create more than 1,500 U.S. jobs.

Mom-and-pops are also engineering entire business strategies devoted to locally made goods - everything from toys to housewares. And it's not simply patriotism and desire for perceived safer products which are altering shopping habits.

The recession, and still flat recovery for many Americans, have created a painful realization. All those cheap goods made in China and elsewhere come at a price -- lost U.S. manufacturing jobs. A growing pocket of consumers, in fact, are connecting the economic dots between their shopping carts - brimming with foreign-made stuff -- and America's future.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/made-u...203855011.html

[brainstorm]

The market is speaking...

[geauxgator1]

Originally Posted by brainstorm

The market is speaking...

Very softly I suspect.

[RayGator]

"Made In The USA making a comeback" is certainly good news!

[g8trjax]

For people that shop USA online. http://marketplace.theblaze.com/about

[enviroGator]

Having grown up in Michigan, I certainly connected those dots maybe a little sooner than others.

And this is certainly good news.

[tegator80]

As long as people lower their expectations some then there isn't any reason that we can't make the products we use. The problem is when something gets commoditized. If you can't see any real difference between like products then the lower price will invariably win out and right now our labor costs are not in line with the emerging countries.

There are three aspects of a business entity: quality, price and service. You get to only have two and that sets up what you must do to be successful. If we can not win in price then we need quality and service. If it is food, then locally grown or "artisan" products is a viable quality angle. If you have the same quality but higher prices then you need superior service. But at the end, if you appreciate locally grown food and like the service at the neighborhood store, you are going to pay more and therefore won't have that money for other things. Just keep your expectations in check and move forward.

[mastoidbone]

I am no fan of manufacturing other then high end work which adds great value. Much better to have service and tech economy--higher salaries and richer nation.

[G8trGr8t]

Originally Posted by mastoidbone

I am no fan of manufacturing other then high end work which adds great value. Much better to have service and tech economy--higher salaries and richer nation.

Doesn't work. Most service jobs do not support middle class wages and there are too many not smart enough for tech. Any country that doesn't add value to its own resources via manufacturing is not going to survive long term
The tech and service economy is what we have had that has increased the income disparity

[wgbgator]

Service jobs could support middle class wages, or at least non-poverty wages. Besides, with tax-code things like the EITC and various social programs, some service jobs already do afford some semblence of a middle class lifestyle with a decent level of public subsidy of things like child care, healthcare, etc.

[RayGator]

USA Today Snapshots 3.5.2013

"Made In The USA" Is The Most Influential Attribute When I Buy A Product

2008 48%

2009 50%

2010 57%

2011 60%

2012 62%

[dynogator]

Originally Posted by mastoidbone

I am no fan of manufacturing other then high end work which adds great value. Much better to have service and tech economy--higher salaries and richer nation.

For reasons of national security, I think we should keep a certain amount of heavy manufacturing at home. Counting on other countries to provide everything makes us vulnerable if they decide to cut us off.

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by tegator80

As long as people lower their expectations some then there isn't any reason that we can't make the products we use. The problem is when something gets commoditized. If you can't see any real difference between like products then the lower price will invariably win out and right now our labor costs are not in line with the emerging countries.

There are three aspects of a business entity: quality, price and service. You get to only have two and that sets up what you must do to be successful. If we can not win in price then we need quality and service. If it is food, then locally grown or "artisan" products is a viable quality angle. If you have the same quality but higher prices then you need superior service. But at the end, if you appreciate locally grown food and like the service at the neighborhood store, you are going to pay more and therefore won't have that money for other things. Just keep your expectations in check and move forward.

My girlfriend is now starting to realize that the made in the U.S.A. tag means something more than just better quality.

But, I will never buy GM nor Chrysler.... Not for a long long time. Unions and their Dem connections will prevent me or her from buying certain American brands.

I already stopped shopping Amazon.

[tegator80]

Originally Posted by Gatorrick22

My girlfriend is now starting to realize that the made in the U.S.A. tag means something more than just better quality.

But, I will never buy GM nor Chrysler.... Not for a long long time. Unions and their Dem connections will prevent me or her from buying certain American brands.

I already stopped shopping Amazon.

???

[brainstorm]

Originally Posted by Gatorrick22

My girlfriend is now starting to realize that the made in the U.S.A. tag means something more than just better quality.

But, I will never buy GM nor Chrysler.... Not for a long long time. Unions and their Dem connections will prevent me or her from buying certain American brands.

I already stopped shopping Amazon.

I have heard a lot of people say this. I think Ford should use it in their marketing ads. "We may be an American automaker, but at least we're not GM or Chrysler"

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by brainstorm

I have heard a lot of people say this. I think Ford should use it in their marketing ads. "We may be an American automaker, but at least we're not GM or Chrysler"

Ford is the clear winner here.

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by tegator80

???

Their support of.......... liberal ideals.

[oaklandroadie]

Originally Posted by Gatorrick22

Their support of.......... liberal ideals.

But when I shop at Amazon by first clicking on the link at the Adam Carolla homepage I help to keep the pirate ship afloat.

[SydneySLee]

Originally Posted by mastoidbone

I am no fan of manufacturing other then high end work which adds great value. Much better to have service and tech economy--higher salaries and richer nation.

Most of the new factories being built in the US are robotics based, which falls into your category of High Tech. Many US companies are afraid we could lose our huge productivity advantage over other countries by allowing them to continue to make our stuff and figure out how to make it cheaper. Even a TWC knows that wages will have to go up over time. Robots don't belong to unions or ask for pay raises.

[G8trGr8t]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

Service jobs could support middle class wages, or at least non-poverty wages. Besides, with tax-code things like the EITC and various social programs, some service jobs already do afford some semblence of a middle class lifestyle with a decent level of public subsidy of things like child care, healthcare, etc.

And these transfer payments should be ingrained in our economy eh comrade? You really think that a large part of our economy should be based on low paying jobs with income supplemented by the taxman taking money from people who applied themselves, worked hard, and made themselves successful. No wonder we never agree on anything.