shopping for **Made in America** Christmas gifts, as seen on ABC News

[Sandy321]

I like to shop at Local Yarn Shops - they tend to purchase yarns that are made (spun and died) by people on a farm - such luxury! You probably could find some great items from Etsy too!

small businesses!

 

[Straitlover]

My sister LOVES the fruitcake from the Southern Supreme store listed in the Food section on the ABC link. I love their candies and such. They are located in North Carolina and have an open house each fall.

 

[eliza61]

Personally I'm more interested in the worker than in profits. I'd love to know which of the car companies employ the most American workers directly or indirectly.

I believe toyota has quite a few plants in the US. for example toyota manufactures its popular camry here in the states employing about 7,000 folks in Kentucky

 

[dislaney]

Did more than my share at James Avery today. Highly recommend them-good quality jewelry. My teen loves their stuff.

 

[mafibisha]

Did more than my share at James Avery today. Highly recommend them-good quality jewelry. My teen loves their stuff.

DD #2 just mentioned that company and I was happy to see it on the list. Also good to see your recommendation!

 

[mafibisha]

I like to shop at Local Yarn Shops - they tend to purchase yarns that are made (spun and died) by people on a farm - such luxury! You probably could find some great items from Etsy too!

small businesses!

Just saw this. Love ETSY. I think some DISSERS sell, too?

My sister LOVES the fruitcake from the Southern Supreme store listed in the Food section on the ABC link. I love their candies and such. They are located in North Carolina and have an open house each fall.

Wow. Just checked out their site and it looks incredible. Had no idea. Definitely checking out more sites on the ABC News link. Love shopping from home

 

[crazyme5kids]

My find today was a memory foam matress topper. Made in the USA and sold at Sears.

 

[3boymthr]

If you're buying an e-reader or ipad for christmas and can afford it Oberon Design's covers are made in California. They also sell notebooks, belts, wallets and purses.

For LL Bean. Surprised to see them there. Very little aside from there maine hunting shoe/boot is made in the US anymore.

 

[SandrA9810]

There's a lot of companies that are "American" but outsource the basic parts to China. Then it's shipped back to America for the finishing touches before going to store shelves. Think a lot electronics, such as phones, Ipods, computers. Motherboards and frames are put together in China, but the installation of programs is still done in America to prevent counterfeiting.
The Chinese might be good at doing what they're told, not a lot of companies over there come up with original ideas. They just knock off what they're already making.

I love that house they featured a little while back. Too bad more companies weren't like that a few years back. Now we have to deal with the "chinese drywall".

My last recent purchases, were Cooper Tires, not only the price, but knowing they're Made in the USA. As well as New Balance. Never should have left them to begin with. I'll always buy their shoes.

 

[OHJulie]

No nonsense socks. They are at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid...

 

[Darcy03231]

There's a lot of companies that are "American" but outsource the basic parts to China. Then it's shipped back to America for the finishing touches before going to store shelves. Think a lot electronics, such as phones, Ipods, computers. Motherboards and frames are put together in China, but the installation of programs is still done in America to prevent counterfeiting.
The Chinese might be good at doing what they're told, not a lot of companies over there come up with original ideas. They just knock off what they're already making.

I love that house they featured a little while back. Too bad more companies weren't like that a few years back. Now we have to deal with the "chinese drywall".

My last recent purchases, were Cooper Tires, not only the price, but knowing they're Made in the USA. As well as New Balance. Never should have left them to begin with. I'll always buy their shoes.

Actually the pieces to the New Balance shoes are made in Taiwan or Mexico and then they're shipped here to be assembled. My sister used to work for New Balance in the design division.

 

[torinsmom]

There's a lot of companies that are "American" but outsource the basic parts to China. Then it's shipped back to America for the finishing touches before going to store shelves. Think a lot electronics, such as phones, Ipods, computers. Motherboards and frames are put together in China, but the installation of programs is still done in America to prevent counterfeiting.
The Chinese might be good at doing what they're told, not a lot of companies over there come up with original ideas. They just knock off what they're already making.

I love that house they featured a little while back. Too bad more companies weren't like that a few years back. Now we have to deal with the "chinese drywall".

My last recent purchases, were Cooper Tires, not only the price, but knowing they're Made in the USA. As well as New Balance. Never should have left them to begin with. I'll always buy their shoes.

The outsourcing is definitely a fact of life in US manufacturing. My brother works for a company in GA that makes the sticky lint rollers, among other things. They get the parts from China and put them together here, so they are "made in America".

 

[mafibisha]

There's a lot of companies that are "American" but outsource the basic parts to China. Then it's shipped back to America for the finishing touches before going to store shelves. Think a lot electronics, such as phones, Ipods, computers. Motherboards and frames are put together in China, but the installation of programs is still done in America to prevent counterfeiting.
The Chinese might be good at doing what they're told, not a lot of companies over there come up with original ideas. They just knock off what they're already making.

I love that house they featured a little while back. Too bad more companies weren't like that a few years back. Now we have to deal with the "chinese drywall".

My last recent purchases, were Cooper Tires, not only the price, but knowing they're Made in the USA. As well as New Balance. Never should have left them to begin with. I'll always buy their shoes.

Yes, I've heard that too. Its far from an ideal system. But America is making progress getting back to the days when we were a manufacturing industry giant, and jobs were plentiful.

On the DIS budget board, the phrase *every little bit helps* is frequently used regarding savings. VERY true regarding buying American, too.

Yes, *every little bit helps*, as we try to buy American, foreign componets and all!

Thanks for keeping this thread *positive* as we try to do our part to buy American!

 

[SandrA9810]

Well thanks for bursting my bubble. Guess I'll have to look a little harder from now on.


So what's every one's take on products from other 1st world nations, like England, France, Germany, where there's no slave labor or sweatshops? Like standards of living are met with the products sold.

At Disney a while back, they used to sell olive wood bowls and spoons from Greece. It was specially harvested to not destroy the tree, only take a small portion. I always wanted them, but a very steep price tag. I know there's a few olive groves nearby in California, but it's one of the few species that need the perefect climate most of America doesn't have.

 

[DizzyFORDisney]

Thanks for this thread! I need a gift idea for my FIL - who has simply said 'anything' made in the USA!!! He's impossible to buy for - as most people of a certain age are....has everything, doesn't need anything, and when he does, he just buys it himself! Anyway, looking for a fun and useful idea under $50.

Any ideas?

 

[crazyme5kids]

I know people love Kindles and Nooks, but buy a book or two. Many books are published and printed here in the USA, so help them stay in business, and more importantly help people keep their jobs.

Stamps. Buy some and send out a few letters or pay some bills the old fashioned way. Give stamps as a gift. Helping to keep the USPS in business is a way to keep people employed.

 

[mafibisha]

I know people love Kindles and Nooks, but buy a book or two. Many books are published and printed here in the USA, so help them stay in business, and more importantly help people keep their jobs.

Stamps. Buy some and send out a few letters or pay some bills the old fashioned way. Give stamps as a gift. Helping to keep the USPS in business is a way to keep people employed.

Great ideas! VERY thoughtful post!

 

[superme80]

I know people love Kindles and Nooks, but buy a book or two. Many books are published and printed here in the USA, so help them stay in business, and more importantly help people keep their jobs.

Stamps. Buy some and send out a few letters or pay some bills the old fashioned way. Give stamps as a gift. Helping to keep the USPS in business is a way to keep people employed.

My son's birthday was last month and my other son's birthday isin Januray. Lots of thank yous to send out. That is my contribution to the USPS.

 

[mafibisha]

Another good article from ABC News.

They mention ETSY . com too, and isn't that a site many DISSERS use to sell their (American made) products?


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Made...ide-find-american-companies/story?id=13057404

 

[tekoa]

Just bought some really nice mens flannel sleep pants from the Vermont Country store. Made in the USA and under $20. The catalog says that they are imported, but when they came the inside tag read made in USA.