There was a time when people just assumed that their cabinetry and appliances would be built in theUSA. Now under the current economic strains and foreign options available in cabinetry, appliances and accessories that are invading the US market, I wonder if the American kitchen industry will go the way of the American steel, auto and home electronics…to some third world country and taking American jobs as well as the American Dream with it?
We, the American people, have been sold a “bill of goods”, that we can somehow maintain our standard of living by purchasing cheaper and good, not great, products that were once produced here in the US, like cars, clothes, TV’s, phones, even food, from some other country and that our lives will be better. I say, look around you and wake up!
We have lost great companies and millions of jobs to other countries that will never come back and the current economic situation and growing jobless rate are just tips of the iceberg. There was a time that American steel, cars, TV’s were the cornerstone of modern technology and the envy of the world. And now we are willing to buy cheap imitations without once thinking about the ramifications of those actions.
The new Jobs Bill proposed by the Obama administration means nothing and will do nothing to stem the tide of joblessness unless there is a job connected to it. We need to bring manufacturing back toAmerica and need to buy American products. Its patriotic…it’s the American thing to do.
My question is this…Does your client care if it is made inAmerica? Do you care? Does it make a difference? Does “Made in America” still stand for quality, technology, craftsmanship, security and trust? I say “Yes…yes it does”, and we need to educate the consumer on the options they have to choose from and how there decision can and will effect the world around them.
With U.S. unemployment at its highest in decades and an ongoing uncertainty about the future of our economy, I believe that we are ready for a consumer revolution to halt the tide of foreign imports and encourage consumers to buy American made products to stimulate economic growth and to put people back to work.
For way too long, the American consumer has ignored where products are made and simply sought out products that they perceived to be cheaper with understanding or realizing that their decision buy a cheaper foreign product may have caused an American factory to close and that their dollars that would have gone to an American worker, went to pay a worker in China or India at a fraction of what an American worker would have earn. Most people would say, “I bought a good product for the best price and someone made a profit”…but here lies the rub, the worker in China did not pay taxes on his earnings to the US, nor did his employer, so nothing was paid into the system, which effects everyone here.
I say “enough!” and I draw a line the sand and issue this challenge to both consumers and manufacturers to “Buy American”. Buying something made in the USA is something to be proud of, it will make you feel good, and you are helping out the economy by keeping the money at home and protecting jobs here.
Will if cost more to buy an American product than a cheaper foreign item…most likely the answer will be yes…but you need to think of those few dollars more as an investment in America, as well as an investment in our future, our children’s future.
I believe in the power of the individual and that the choices we make can change the world. The revolution begins with you and the choices you make. I say choose wisely…choose American.
Designer, writer and advocate for social change, Kevin Henry is one of a handful of industry thought-leaders influencing the kitchen and bath community on a daily basis. Mr Henry is the Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Enkeboll Designs. Read more of Kevin’s thoughts and observations at www.theessentialkitchen.blogspot.com .
