For US retailers, the uncertainty of tariffs and ongoing supply chain issues has been challenging and has caused some to change where they source their inventory, including “reshoring” to US manufacturing. The Trump Administration has stated that that is one of the reasons for the changes in tariff levels – to stimulate a return to manufacturing on American soil.
Each year, in the October issue, this newsletter looks at the importance of manufacturing in the USA and features some vendors who make things locally which may be relevant to our readers.
Channel Craft began as a one-man operation back in 1983 from the back of a step van / traveling wood shop. President and founder, Dean Helfer, drove from craft shows to folk festivals peddling his hand-crafted wooden Boomerangs. He would arrive at a craft show the evening before and set up his wood shop for the next morning ready to sand and sell his Boomerangs that were finished right before the customer’s very eyes.
A worker runs a machine in the process of making Channel Craft’s train whistle, while others work on the company’s trademark boomerang.
Workers imprint toys in the printing room at Channel Craft’s factory
As the years went on and sales grew, Dean and his crafters sought out a larger manufacturing facility than a step van to continue to produce the American Pastimes that had brought them this far. In 1991, Channel Craft settled into an old Army Corps of Engineers building south of Pittsburgh on the banks of the Monongahela River in Charleroi, PA.
40 years later, Channel Craft is still “Quality Crafting” Toys, Games, Puzzles & Edu-Tainment for thousands of specialty toy and gift shops right here in the USA. And, believe it or not, the returning Wooden Boomerang is still Dean’s best seller!
Sassy Talkin Products.
Sassy Talkin’ Graphic designer, photographer, and artist Diana of Slidell, Louisiana, uses all of her talents to create unique designs on humorous decorative towels, coasters, ornaments and tumblers for women. New products are created by Diana listening to her customers. What sets Sassy Talkin’ apart is the fact that the company creates for its customers and name drop with no set up fees.
Grandparent Gift Company.
Grandparent Gift Company, of Alpharetta, Georgia, has been in the gift industry for over 30 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. The company takes pride in creating many unique gifts and sourcing about half of the company’s extensive gift items from US makers.
The company partners with small US glass, pewter and frame makers to design custom gifts and messages, popular with retailers across the country. The Grandparent Gift Co.’s best-selling USA made glass gifts are handmade in small towns in Texas, Missouri and Oregon. They are then shipped to The Grandparent Gift Co. where they are packaged with the companies original sentiments written by owner, Teri Harrison. The finished gifts are then shipped to retailers across the country.
The company is constantly innovating gift ideas and creating new American made gifts for the whole family.
Gina B. Designs makes a complete line of designer greeting cards made in USA.
In Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, Gina B. Designs is a designer and publisher of Greeting Cards and Stationery/Gift products since 1984. All of the company’s products are produced in the U.S.A. Every item in the line is printed locally, assembled and packaged at the company’s facility.
The Pocket Plus portable pockets come in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns.
The Pocket Plus of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, makes portable pockets that attach with magnets for a convenient way to carry things on the go. The Pocket Plus products are made in the USA and come in multiple sizes and colors – perfect for holding your phone, a water bottle, keys, your wallet, and more! It’s a fantastic gift idea for someone of almost any age, especially the really hard to buy for person in your life.
Fairhope Favorites’ Moonshine Hot Sauces.
Fairhope Favorites of Fairhope, Alabama, is a family owned, 32-year-old wholesale gourmet food company which makes wholesale gourmet food with unique items, such as Moonshine Hot Sauces and other novelty gifts.
Crown Mulling Spices are good in hot or cold beverages.
Crown Mulling Spices of Birmingham, Alabama features mulling spice for all seasons with a high-end presentation and a low-end price. Crown Mulling Spices has two execeptional mulling spices to offer its customers: For those who use sugar, the Regular Mulling Spice and for those who prefer to not use sugar, Sugar Free Mulling Spice with Splenda. Both can be prepared in a variety of ways … mixed with juices, wines, teas, cooking and baking.
Sun Day Greetings Products.
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Sun Day Greetings produces a full line of greeting cards, featuring fabulous photography coupled with smart, to-the-point and often witty versing. Includes all everyday occasions. Also gift enclosure cards and boxed notecard sets.
Making Quintessential Chocolates.
Quintessential Chocolates of Fredericksburg, Texas, is the only vendor in America specializing in the centuries old art form of casting “Liqueur Praliné” or the European style Liquid Center Chocolates (“with a sugar crust”).
Billy Joe Products.
Charleston, South Carolina, company Billy Joe Homewares has unique and decorative kitchen sink strainers and kitchen sink stoppers.
…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.
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.
- Ala Carte Alice
- Betsy Drake
- The Dish
- Dutch House Confections
- ER Sales
- Ergo Candles Inc.
- Freeheart
- The Great San Saba River Pecan Co.
- Hot Ruby
- Jillson Roberts
- Kiss Me In The Garden
- MikWright
- Mills Gourmet
- Mountaineer Floral
- Northridge Gardens
- Oatmeal Studios
- The Professionals
- Pure Factory Naturals
- Pure Mana
- Sassy’s
- Serenity + Sol
- Smith Amish
- Snazzy & Company
- Staywell Copper
- Studio B
- Tangico
- Wild Hare Designs
