GIFT AND HOME RETAILER NEWS
A Service of GiftsWholesale.Com & OmegaNet Inc.

Looming Dock Workers' Strike Underscores
Importance of "Made in USA"

Annual Special Issue

Ports were idled during a brief work stoppage by dock workers. The strike has been suspended until Jan. 15.
(Photo by Mazin Omron: pexels.com)

October 1 through 3 saw the International Longshoremen's Association walk off the job, shutting down ports from Portland, Maine to Corpus Christi, Texas. Fortunately, it was decided to suspend the strike until January 15, 2025, so talks between the union and management could continue. The supply chain for Christmas won't be interrupted, but it's a reminder of the importance of "Made in USA."

In the October issue of this newsletter we take a look at vendors who make their products in the USA.

Dutch House Confections, located in rural Minnesota, started in 1997 out of a restaurant. Soon the owners built a 10x20 commercially-licensed kitchen in the basement of their home. In that basement kitchen it ran as a one-woman operation for a few years. Eventually the owner invited a couple of her neighbors to work part-time. Over the years the operation expanded into a larger home-based commercially-licensed kitchen, and then into its current 10,000 square foot building that once served as a supper club in Nelson, Minnesota.

A Dutch House Caramels employee feeds caramels into a wrapping machine. Behind her are two women packing the wrapped caramels into boxes to ship to their customers.

The final step is shrink-wrapping the packed boxes.

The company specializes in homemade-style caramel. It started with one variety, the original. As customers requested other varieties, the line expanded into the 14 flavors they offer today. Along with that growth came the need for additional help. Dutch House Confections currently employs nine full-time and part-time individuals whose jobs include making caramel, packing caramel, and processing orders.

To the East in Pennsylvania, Channel Craft has been manufacturing Authentic American Toys, Games, Puzzles & Edu-Tainment Designs that are "Quality Crafted" here in the USA for over 38 years. These traditional American Pastimes are produced by skilled craftsmen and women to ensure aesthetic beauty, durability and great play value. Channel Craft has become the preeminent purveyor of historically significant Toys, Games and Puzzles to complement museums, parks and attractions. The company has a broad selection of educational and entertaining Nautical, Historical, Nature and Science related products – it's what they call "Edu-Tainment."

A worker smooths out wooden boomerangs in Channel Craft's Pennsylvania factory

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.

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

Sarasota, Florida, based Freeheart features insulated drinkware in thousands of designs. The company recently unveiled licened designs of Joel Sartore Photography, best known for creating the PhotoArk and documenting images of over 11,683 endangered species in zoos and in the wild around the world. Freeheart collections include Area Codes, Astrology, Camo Colors, City Scapes, Collegiate, Faith, Floral and many, many more, plus licensed art from a number of artists. Tumblers come in 16-oz, 18-oz and 24-oz and lids are available.

Freeheart drinkware is made in Florida. Here an employee welds the insulation to the outer cup.

...and more!

These are just highlights of those we could have mentioned. Though some tend to think nothing is made in USA anymore, that is not the case, as these examples show. You can see more made-in-USA vendors at USMadeWholesale.com, one of OmegaNet's portals.

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.