• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Subscribe
  • Submit Content
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Advertise
    • Display Advertising
    • Email Marketing Campaigns
    • Newsletter Advertising
    • Sponsored Content
    • Lead Generation Services
  • Top Product Sources

WholesaleCentral.com Blog

The Industry's Trusted Source for B2B Retail and Wholesale News

  • For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
Home » Made in USA Products in the US Capital

Made in USA Products in the US Capital

June 14, 2011 by Publisher

American MadeNothing screams Red, White and Blue quite like our nation’s capital and its famous museum and research complex, the Smithsonian. After a close encounter with the American history timeline and its artifacts, tourists both local and foreign usually visit the museum gift shop to purchase a souvenir. But what message do these tourists receive when they flip over their souvenirs to find a “Made in China” label? Sen. Bernie Sanders, says, “It seems to me that a museum owned by the American people, designed to express our history and our greatness, should be, to as great a degree as possible, selling products made by American workers,” a brilliant suggestion backed up by the threat of legislation. The Price of Freedom gift shop at the National Museum of American History was the first to heed the advice of Sanders, and although the Senator would like to see all of the Smithsonian’s gift shops sell American made products, this gift shop is a start.

Price of Freedom Gift Shop Proud to Provide Items Made by Americans

While still carrying some merchandise made overseas, The Price of Freedom gift shop, which generally focuses on military themed merchandise, has removed some popular items to make way for products from its newly acquired U.S. manufacturers and vendors. As USA Today reports, “About a third of the Smithsonian’s business comes from products made in this country, according to Becky Haberacker, a Smithsonian spokeswoman. Of the 90 new vendors the museums have added since March, 19 make their merchandise in the United States.” But, as Sanders asks, is this enough?

Proud of the Smithsonian’s efforts to promote and sell Made in USA products, Brent Glass, National Museum of American History director, comments, “I think we’re the first major museum gift shop to use exclusively made in America products.” Yet, there remains a sense of caution as the gift shop removes top selling but oversea made items, such as teddy bears in camouflage jackets. Also, the question has arisen, how expensive will this American made promotion be as American made products are more costly than those made overseas? Sanders tries to reassure the museum, saying, “American made merchandise is sometimes more expensive, but U.S. tourists will buy it as a way to boost jobs.”

To read more about The Price of Freedom Gift Shop’s efforts, click HERE.

Category: Retail News Tags: gifts and souvenirs, made in usa

Primary Sidebar

Latest Posts

Tips to Expand Your Retail Business

Retail News

Inflation Boosting the Secondhand Market

Retail News

Momentum Continues After OFFPRICE Show

Trade Show News

Small Business Giving Back to Underserved Communities

Retail News

How to Avoid ERP System Pitfalls

Marketing & Management

Using Blockchain to Grow Your Business

Ecommerce

Sign Up for Buyer Updates

WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Editor’s Picks

How to Build the Perfect Marketing Campaign

Editors Picks, Wholesale 101 for Buyers

The Best & Worst Times to Post on Social Media

Editors Picks, Marketing & Management

Best Made in USA Products to Sell in the Summer

Editors Picks, Featured Products, Made in USA, Product News

More Editor's Picks

Follow Us:

© Sumner Communications, Inc.
6 Research Drive, Suite 420 | Shelton, CT 06484