Items tagged “Made in the U.S.A.”

According to a survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, if shoppers were allowed to choose between a U.S.-made product and something identical made abroad, 78% of people opted for the American product. The reasons? Many respondents cited a wish to keep American manufacturing strong. Others expressed concern about the use of cheap labor overseas, and still others felt that American-produced goods were better quality. The Giggle Guide^® spotlights products made in the USA, including: Royal Baby, Dreamspun, Suoak and Polka Dot Moon.

Attending a panel discussion presented about how retailers can better work with bloggers and social media outlets, I remembered Marshall McLuhan’s famous quote from my college days: “The medium is the message.” He meant something about the medium influencing, and thus becoming part of, how the message is perceived. It kinda confused me then, just as I realized after the Q&A session that there is a lot of confusion about the ever-changing online media called “social.” Some retailers remained puzzled as to why anyone would be interested in what moms say about their families. One reason they should care is because many of these messages are influencing buying decisions and helping to build brands.

When you’re young, you are vaguely aware of the strong influences binding your family together. When you get older, you understand the vital role each family member plays. As the definitions of family change and evolve in modern society, the ties that bind families together remain strong. What family wouldn’t want to boast about its bonds? Companies like Hip Together are filling a need to promote the love and strength that exists in the bonds of family relationships.