In the U.S., Saturday, Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday, a day when shoppers are encouraged to shop at small, usually local businesses. I work part time at a small business, a tea shop called SereneTeaz, and I know how important these businesses are to vibrant communities and to both owners and employees. Shameless plug: Just to show you don’t have to shop local on Saturday or any other day to support a small business, we ship anywhere in the continental US and if you spend over $50, shipping is free and if you check out the website and watch, you’ll see me. 🙂
Whether or not you live in the US, shopping at local businesses is a great way to support the community around you. But as the holidays approach, I want to take one day to challenge you to participate in another way.
“A Year Without ‘Made in China’: One Family’s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy”, by Sara Bongiorni, tells the tale of one family’s attempt to live a year without buying anything made in China. We hear all the time how Walmart doesn’t have anything not made in China, but look at other stores, including many/most high-end stores of all sorts and you’ll find the same to be true. The author points out that she has nothing against China, but wanted to make Americans see how deeply they’re tied to international trade. It’s an easy and interesting read. When my husband moved a few years before we did, I tried to buy kitchen items not made in China and I didn’t go to Walmart. I found exactly two.
The challenge:
A week from today, Tuesday, Nov. 29, I’d like all my readers to share in their comments a product they know is made in their country by a business from their country. Then I’d encourage each of you to try to buy a Christmas gift or two (or gift for other holidays) that originates in your country by a business in your country, whether from the businesses in my post or not. You’re welcome to share more than one if you like. Links are appreciated.
See you Tuesday!
This, that and the other thing 
I first thought that’s easy but it isn’t…I bought a gazillion of envelopes for my christmas cards, they are made in brittany :o)
No, it’s not as easy, Easy, as you might think, especially in the US with the very big stores. But even small stores such as the tea shop where I work find it difficult to find products made in the US.
janet
I always start my search at the local hardware store before heading to the big-box.
Maybe next week you can tell us a few specific products/brands that you like.
janet
I’ll try to remember.
https://www.socklady.com/ Socks made in the USA. I own several pair. I love them.
Thanks, Honie. If you think of it, post the link again next Tuesday. Otherwise, I’ll try to remember to do it.
janet
I have a piano and dining room set made in America. I’m a big time tea drinker so I will check out your web sites – any suggestions?
What kind of tea do you like? We have about 130+ kinds of either tea or tisanes (non-tea based.) I’ll be happy to give some recommendations.
janet
You have Lapsang Souchon tea!!! And I placed an order!!! (I was getting it from a shop in Champaign, but their last few batches have been sadly weak…)
Thanks!! Let me know what you think, but ours is definitely not weak and if you want some recommendations, just ask.
I love this idea — might be a real challenge!
Do your best, Karen, and stop by in a week!
janet
I was on a shopping weekend with my nieces in Buffalo many years ago and we tried a no-made-in-
China pact. Even then, it was shockingly hard. Today, I would imagine it is even worse.
Since then, I’ve paid close attention to where things are made and was dismayed by how many food products were coming from China.
When it comes to food, I have an unwavering bias towards local although when it comes to produce in Canada in the winter, that’s virtually impossible.
I was delighted yesterday to find some locally made winter hats in a large national department store here in Toronto. The company is called Parkhurst and happily I’ve owned one of their hats for years after I visited their manufacturing facility when they had a huge factory sale just prior to Christmas.
They have been in business for a 100 years and can be found at Parkhurst.ca
Great contribution, Joanne. A few years ago, I read a book called The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating (or Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally) , written by two Canadians. It’s fascinating and as you say, shows the difficulty of eating completely local, especially in the winter, at least non-tropical countries, and if you want to drink coffee or tea! I think you’d enjoy it.
janet
I think I’ve seen the book, but I’ve never read it. I knew it would be brutal for a Canadian.
On the other hand, there are MANY local micro-breweries, wineries, cideries and I think even whiskies made nearby. I might be able to survive 😉
At least you’d be happy, if malnourished. 🙂
[…] A week ago, I mentioned how difficult it is to find products made in the US and not in China. I said I was going to challenge you to help people shop for the holidays from, if not locally, at least from the US or from whatever country my readers live in. You should have been on the hunt. Now it’s time to see what you’ve found. Here are some products I know are made in the US. […]
To my opinion, small business is a backbone of the economy and it’s necessary to create decent conditions for its development. Small business owners create jobs and pay taxes, that’s why they help to make the US better.
I agree, Danny. Thanks for the visit and comment.
janet