“Made in the U.S.A.” Helps Small Brands Make It

Bad times in Asia have winnowed out some factories so that the ones that are still in operation are beginning to turn down or postpone some jobs. Labor trouble in China is making it more difficult for some retailers to purchase merchandise from brands that manufacture overseas. Uncertain deliveries from Asia, combined with a desire to keep jobs in the U.S., all help contribute to American companies’ bottom line.

In addition, many companies believe that manufacturing in the U.S. helps them do a better job of maintaining quality control and reliable delivery. While big retailers can afford to keep buyers abroad or send executives across the Pacific to check on suppliers, this doesn’t make sense for smaller companies. Made in the U.S.A. brands provide goods buyers want, made to their precise specifications and delivered on time. These brands are just a few good examples of American-made pride: Petites Frites, Noli, Noli, Funkie Baby, and Fleming Clothing.

Petites Frites Offers Everyday Baby Essentials

Despite its French moniker, Petites Frites designs and makes smart, stylish products in the U.S.A. The company prides itself on practical burp cloth designs made with good-to-the-earth materials. As useful as these baby-care essentials are, Petites Frites’ versions are also joyful in vibrant colors with contrast stitching at the borders, and are made of custom-designed double-sided cotton blend knit that’s both highly absorbent and soft enough to wipe baby’s sensitive skin without irritation.

Smile because it’s Monday… or because your customers will when they see the day-of-the-week bib set. These nine-by-eight-inch marvels are emblazoned with titles like Magical Monday, Tickle Me Tuesday, or Sunny Saturday. Bibs have tie closures and are packaged “jam jar” style –– perfect for gift giving.

Teething blankies are also available in pink or blue and feature four natural, removable teethers –– a maple wooden ring, two colorful pima cotton hand-knitted shapes, and a cotton red/white gingham star — one in each corner. Baby blankets are extra large so they are practical and versatile as well as colored in vibrant hues with baby-friendly dyes.

Give your customers Euro-flair with U.S.A. pride, every day of the week at www.petitesfrites.com

No Finish, No Worries, Yes Noli Noli

When Ken Como added “dad” to his job description, he wanted to put his skills as a design engineer into the mix — hence, Noli, Noli, handmade wooden toys that have passed rigorous testing by his son. These “no finish, no paint, no worries” toys are all natural and made largely of local wood from the New York area.

Each toy auto in the Retro Car series has a maple head that serves as a handle for small hands and comes in American cherry, sugar maple, or American walnut that each lend different tones. The brand’s rattles provide a gentle sound thanks to the dried beans inside. They are crafted in walnut, maple, cherry, or zebra wood handles with a smooth, pleasing-to-touch maple head.

Nautical and nice bathtub boats peer at the waves from eyes that are available either in sleepy or wide open mode and are made of sustainably grown mahogany that’s both water-resistant and pleasant to smell. Give the five-inch tall robots a shake and listen to the soft rattle that comes from the organic adzuki beans inside.

Wooden toys retain the value of classic gifts. See the handmade selection at www.nolinoli.com

Funkie Baby Deals with Drool While Looking Cool

What’s hip, soak proof, and comes in more than thirty prints? Mats, bibs, and burpies from Funkie Baby! All products are made in the USA and are reversible with a three-layer design made of a cotton back and front with a soft lining hidden in the middle. The reversible Roll N Go Travel Mat is light enough to roll and stash in a tote bag making it the take-along accessory to pull out in the anytime baby needs to nap or chill.

For one-stop diaper changes, the Go Mat is an easy to pack 24 by 14 inches in cool prints like Jelly Beans, Fifty States, Gnomes and Wild Pony. Stock ultra-stylish bibs that do the job no matter how messy the little eater and watch customers warm to cheery patterns like Froggy, Sushi, and Legz. The Tattoo bib with black background or the BeBop pattern for the mambo queen or king are incredibly now. Gifts of a bib with a Burpie featuring a plush corduroy center with funky print trim are just the thing for drool-protection.

Get your funk on with accessories from www.funkiebaby.com

Fleming Clothing Unleashes Customers’ Creativity

Your customers can design their kid’s clothes! Let them start with a favorite pattern from a wide selection of options, select the size they want, and pick the fabric that spins their wheels. What do they get? An original creation from Fleming Clothing in sizes for six months to seven years for little divas or dudes. Mothers and kids, adoring grands and friends can totally personalize their selections, choosing from fifteen styles for girls and eight for boys.

The Annie bloomers are a total hoot, with or without ruffles. The Betty dress is a traditional A-line that shows off the Worker Bee pattern on the outside and provides a new look when reversed to Garden Diva or Hunter Green Houndstooth fabric.

Talk about multitasking; customers shopping for little guys can start with the reversible Clyde jacket and the Wilson long reversible overall and end up with two suits for the price of one! Clyde also looks smooth topping an everyday pair of jeans. The Campbell rugby jersey works for boys and girls and is the perfect top for anything from the playground to a dress-up dinner with a body of soft, durable knit jersey and a collar in woven fabric available in dozens of choices.

Fleming’s 100 percent cotton fabrics come from all over the U.S. with many made in North Carolina where the company is headquartered. For more about the brand’s personal touch, contact www.flemingclothing.com