From clothing to electronics to toys, from discount stores to department stores to specialty shops, the turnout of shoppers scooping up bargains at after-Thanksgiving sales gave retailers reason for optimism about the holiday season.
In one big-box store that was open on Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, cheerful stock clerks were topping off the shelves, creating new displays in wide aisles and marking down prices for sales that would begin several hours later. They were working hard and under a deadline, but their demeanor showed excitement rather than stress. What happened over the next two or three days would indicate whether holiday sales this year would be good, mediocre or bad. Clearly, the store workers were expecting and preparing for demand like in the old days before the crash.
By Friday afternoon, the initial crush of shoppers had tapered off as folks all over Alabama returned home to watch the Iron Bowl, but retailers reported the morning had been good. Stores across the area told similar tales: Strong sales in the morning, slower in the afternoon, and another surge expected on Saturday.
As happy as the retailers are to see the increased sales, consumers must be just as happy to feel a little more freedom to spend after two years of enforced frugality. And the holiday spending not only points to a sense of confidence in the economy’s recovery, it fuels it.
However, a disturbing proportion of the products we’re buying is fueling the economies of other countries more than our own. The labels tell the story: The merchandise we buy is made in Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Guatemala, Honduras, and occasionally Italy, but by far the most common is China.
It can be difficult and time-consuming and possibly more expensive to insist on buying U.S.-made items. Sometimes it seems downright impossible, as the products just are not made here anymore — if they ever were.
But you might find surprising the number of necessities as well as luxury items that are made in the United States.
For example, although the textile industry has left Talladega County, it is still possible to buy American-made clothing in many styles and for all ages. Much of it is made from American-grown cotton.
Many kitchen utensils, appliances, cookware and dishes are made in the United States. So are outstanding wines. And popular gifts are U.S.-grown citrus, tree fruits, cheeses and sausages.
For the handyman, a great number of recognizable brands are U.S.-made, including Leatherman, MagLite, Snap On, W.R. Case & Sons, Stanley, Channellock and Briggs & Stratton, to name only a few.
While musicians and music lovers may not be able to find the amplifiers they want made in America, they have a broad choice of American-made instruments and accessories as well as speakers.
This is only a sampling of the many categories of American-made goods. Finding some of these items may take some work, but an online industry has emerged to make it easier. Directories such as www.americansworking.com, www.BuyAmerican.com, www.devvy.com, www.madeinusa.com, www.stillmadeinusa.com and www.toysmadeinamerica.com present a fuller picture of the range of items that are manufactured in this country and also tell where to get them.
It’s not always necessary to order them online. One brand of American-made luxury bath towels is available only at Wal-Mart. And, of course, local specialty shops offer hand-made and one-of-a-kind items created right here in Talladega and St. Clair counties.
As we do our bit to boost the economy by letting go of some of our hard-earned cash, let’s also make an effort to protect and generate more American jobs. Let’s make “Made in USA” our label of choice once more.
Source: http://www.dailyhome.com
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