Federal Government and Manufacturers Large and Small Making Moves to “Made in USA”

Soaring shipping costs from the Far East, combined with supply chain disruption and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have accelerated efforts by U.S. and European manufacturers to bring manufacturing closer to home. This continues a trend that has been ongoing for a couple of decades. In this special, annual “Made in USA” issue, we again examine the status of making things in America.

Holiday Fried Pecans makes its products in Louisiana.
At right, Keith Baum showcases the product line.

During his first week in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 14005, “Ensuring the Future is Made in America by All of America’s Workers,” which launched an initiative to strengthen the use of federal procurement to support American Manufacturing.

A January, 2022 survey by UBS found that more than 90% of executives said they were either in the process of moving production out of China or planned to do so. About 80% were looking at sites in the U.S. or Mexico.

A few years ago, this trend was accelerated by concern over toxic materials in products coming from China. Companies like GE Appliance began moving water-heater production to Louisville, KY and other lines followed suit. GE found that savings on shipping offset higher U.S. labor costs.

Novellis similarly moved an aluminum can plant to Bay Minette, AL to address concerns about sustainable packaging. US Steel built a plant in Osceola, AR and Intel moved two chip factories to Phoenix.

A Tangico worker organizes products for shipment.
Inset: Products in the laser engraver.

Walmart is in the ninth year of a two-decade plan to onshore production of its products. Walmart has been the largest retail importer of hard goods in the U.S. (information above comes from this article)

Here are a few manufacturers who continue to make things in the USA.

Holiday Fried Pecans products are 100% Southern, made in Alexandria, Louisiana, by the Baum family. The product is based on an old family recipe that they have enjoyed for generations. They have a simply delicious flavor, setting it above all other snacks. The fried pecans are vegan, gluten free, with no GMOs and all natural. The product has the same amount of fat and calories as a raw pecan.

Sue Kinch, owner of Tangico in Pontiac, Michigan says, “Made in the USA products combined with quick turnaround allows retailers to minimize inventory carrying costs.” Tangico hires individual overcoming addiction, abuse, and homelessness for 7-10 shipping. Engraving, barcoding, and shipping orders restores self-esteem so employees can get back on their feet.

Top, a Grandparent Gift Company worker inserts sentiment cards in a frame.
Below, stacks of are frames ready for shipping.

The Grandparent Gift Co. of Alpharetta, Georgia, has been in the gift industry for 28 years. The company’s roots started with a single sentiment and has grown to hundreds of gift items for all family members and all occasions.

Above, Betsy Drake works on an original painting. Inset, a Hibiscus floral design, applied to a
corded pillow.

Owned by Teri Harrison, the company started selling USA-made greeting cards, framed prints and other sentiment gifts in the mid 1990’s. The company still depends on local printers and suppliers for components in over half their total gift assortment from US vendors. The company’s popular, best-selling handmade glass crosses are made in Texas and assembled in the Alpharetta warehouse.

In late 2022, the company will relaunch the sentiment that started the company, Grandma’s Heart; available to retailers in Fall, 2022.

Betsy Drake is the name of an artist in North Carolina who, after 30 years in retail sales and management, took up painting and launched a wholesale business featuring prints of her artwork and also that of her husband, Dick Hamilton. Investing in a cut and sew manufacturing facility just north of Atlanta, GA, Betsy and Dick now feature hundreds of unique designs on decorative pillows, towels, coasters, doormats, placemats, shower curtains and more.

Below is a list of other US-made manufacturers who either entirely make their products in the USA or may assemble products in the US. Links to these can be found at GiftsWholesale.com, USMadeWholesale.com or in the CAMEOEZ.com directory.