Americans are already feeling the effects of supply chain shortages even before the traditional holiday shopping season starts on Back Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Ads by retailers are advising consumers to do their holiday shopping early to avoid not being able to get the items they want to give as presents. Even if you buy early, holiday shopping won\u2019t be easy this year. Since the supply chain shortage is predicted to last well into next year, the solution is to buy less and buy American.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the article<\/a> \u201cIt\u2019s time for Americans to buy less stuff\u201d that appeared on Vox October 21, 2021, Terry Nguyen wrote: \u201cInstead of opting to order our Christmas presents early, perhaps now is the time to reconsider America\u2019s great shopping addiction.\u201d\u00a0 He asks, \u201cWhen the stuff we want is so hard to get ahold of, why go to such great lengths to buy it?\u201d He opines, \u201cConsumers have the option to not order items manufactured overseas, to source things locally from small businesses or artisans. We also have a choice that eliminates the potential for shipping or supply chain mishaps: We can just buy less.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the article reveals that his motivation for the \u201cbuy less\u201d recommendation is based on his concern for the environment. He comments, \u201cWe know that our collective consumption of consumer goods, from the creation of plastic toys to the fossil fuels that ship them to our homes, isn\u2019t good for the environment<\/a>.\u201d He points out \u201cThe higher-income consumers among us use far more resources than the less well-off and are responsible for influencing shopping norms at large.\u201d He asks, \u201cMust we continue to drown in our unlimited and unfettered need for more stuff, or could we start buying less?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Chinese products are so cheap, we\u2019ve become a nation that throws things away instead of fixing them. When small appliances cost so little, we buy a new one instead of getting the item fixed. We are constantly bombarded with ads encouraging us to buy the newest version of a product to keep up with the latest features. Our closets and dressers become stuffed with the latest trends in clothes, shoes, and accessories. Adopting a personal philosophy to buy less would have personal benefits in addition to environmental and societal benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nguyen writes, \u201cOn a recent podcast, New York Times opinion writer (and Vox co-founder) Ezra Klein encouraged listeners not to think of their consumption decisions as individual<\/a> or as only affecting themselves. Rather, they serve as mechanisms for \u2018social, political, and moral contagion.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not just a question of how much to buy; it\u2019s also a question of what to buy and where you buy it. Nguyen stated, \u201cAbout 70 percent<\/a> of the US economy, after all, stems from consumer spending.\u201d Therefore, the choices we make as consumers affects our whole economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result of the shortages experienced during the early stages of the COVID pandemic, consumers are more interested in buying American, According to a June 2020 study cited in USA Today<\/a>, the results of a poll by FTI Consulting showed that \u201c40% of Americans are no longer interested in buying products that are stamped with \u201cMade in China. Nearly 80% are now willing to pay higher prices to companies that close their Chinese factories.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The results of a survey conducted last summer by the Reshoring Institute<\/a> showed that nearly 70% of Americans prefer \u201cMade in USA\u201d products and over 50% would be willing to pay more for American-made products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people may say, \u201cI can\u2019t find American-made products to buy.\u201d However, as more and more consumers choose to buy American, there are more and more products available that are \u201cMade in USA.\u201d When I attended the first \u201cMade in America\u201d trade show held in October 2019 in Indianapolis, IN, I was amazed at the variety of products on display at the show. It was a pleasure to see American made bedding, mattresses, furniture, rugs, draperies, flatware, dinnerware, cook ware, cabinets, and other kitchen goods. These are all industries that some said were lost forever. There were also bicycles, sports equipment, tools, and children\u2019s toys, clothing, cleaning products, skin care and makeup, specialty foods, and tools, toys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While there were the more traditional plastic, rubber, and metal fabricators that exhibit at shows like WESTEC, FABTECH, and Design2Part shows, there were also companies that probably don\u2019t exhibit at traditional trade shows, including a company that builds roller coasters. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting My Pillow\u2019s founder and President, Mike Lindell, after he was interviewed by radio talk show host Mike Gallagher in a studio set up on the show floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had the pleasure of participating in a panel featuring the following women business owners: linens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the show, I also met the Regional Sales Manager of the Made in America store<\/a>, which has a store located in Elma, NY that features over 9,000 Made in USA products. In addition, there are hundreds of products that can be purchased online at their website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, you can also find the names of companies that make products in America at the website of The Made in America Movement<\/a>. You can search by category, such as automotive, beauty and skin care, children, clothing \u2013 men, clothing \u2013 women, footwear, home goods, kitchen, pets, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The above resources should help you be able to buy more \u201cMade in USA\u201d products. I encourage you to choose to buy more American-made products in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n