ADAMSTOWN, Pa. – With the holidays just around the corner, the shopping has begun. To kick-off the holiday shopping season, American Made Matters® has declared November 19, 2013 the first annual American Made Matters Day. On this day, American Made Matters is encouraging consumers to buy at least one American-made product to show their support for American manufacturing. “It is our hope that this will set the tone for the remainder of the shopping season, particularly Black Friday,” said Don Rongione, president and founder of American Made Matters, an organization dedicated to educating consumers on the importance of buying American-made products.
“As consumers start their holiday shopping, it is essential to remind them of the importance of buying goods made in the United States,” says Rongione. “Americans continue to tighten their budgets, making it more important than ever to make the most of each dollar.” According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) holiday consumer spending survey, the average holiday shopper will spend $737.95 on holiday expenses, a decrease of almost $15 from last year.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that every $1 spent on American-made goods invests an additional $1.35 in the U.S. economy. The NRF is predicting that approximately 90% of Americans, or over 285 million people, will participate in holiday shopping. “That means if the average shopper spends just $50 more on goods made in the U.S., $19 billion could be added to the U.S. economy from holiday shopping alone,” Rongione said.
“Buying American-made goods really comes down to a small act that can have a huge impact,” Rongione added. “I think that consumers can often feel powerless, but they can really make a difference.”
Joy Petty, director of marketing, vacuums at Tacony Corporation, an American Made Matters member company, agrees. “The power to strengthen the U.S. economy lies in millions of little decisions consumers make each day. By asking consumers to purchase one U.S.-produced good on American Made Matters® Day, we’re hoping they will realize just how easy it is to do good for the economy.”
According to the government’s Advanced Manufacturing Portal, one new manufacturing job creates 1.6 additional jobs in local service businesses. Jobs in high-tech manufacturing industries generate up to five local service jobs. This produces a ripple effect that leads to demand in other industries, such as technology, supply chain management and logistics.
About American Made Matters: American Made Matters was launched on July 4, 2009 by the Bollman Hat Company, America’s oldest hat manufacturer. It is the only organization committed to promoting American-made goods that is run by manufacturers. It has over 200 member companies in a variety of sectors. For more information, visit www.americanmadematters.com.