At every single purchasing opportunity,
Ask for the American made product.


Last winter, I was shopping for a new winter coat.  Here in New England, it gets very cold, and I needed a new one.  I went to the local shopping mall, which was large and new, with many fashionable stores.

One of my criteria for buying a coat was that it should be "Made in America".  One Wednesday evening I went to each of the dozen or so stores in the mall that sell men's clothing.  Although several coats that I tried on were attractive and warm, NOT ONE coat in the entire mall was made in the USA. 

By this time I was becoming frustrated, but somewhat enlightened.  The last store in the mall was Macys, a chain of upscale department stores.  I approached the salesman in the men's department, and explained to him that I needed a new coat, but that it had to be made in America.  His response absolutely floored me.  He said that there were none to be had, coats were no longer made in America.  Looking around the racks, I discovered that they are all imported from China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, and Macau.  Not one from Baltimore.

(At one time I had a London Fog raincoat and on the inside label it proudly stated that it was made in Baltimore.)

My next question to the salesman was "Does anyone ever ask for clothing that is Made in America?"  His response - "No.  Never.  They just don't care."  I further explained to this fellow that I was ready, willing, and able to buy, if only he had a coat that was made here.  Because he did not, I was not going to buy anything.  I walked out.  He looked at me and shrugged.  He thought that I was some sort of a nut...

My point here is simple.  What if every person who walked into that men's department asked for the American made garment, and upon learning that the store carried none, voted with their checkbook, and walked out without buying anything.  How long do you think it would take management to get the message that they are losing sales, and start carrying American made products? 

In a heartbeat.  Demand would create supply.