Made in China vs. Made in America….is there a choice?

I do not shop all that often, the type of shopping my wife does, sport shopping I call it, when you randomly look at stuff searching for a bargain or something you must have. I usually simply shop for a specific item when I need it. However I recently went sport shopping with my wife and thus had occasion to visit, ever so quickly, dozens of stores in a large mall, and I was taken back by an observation I could not help making.

Everything is made in China….everything.

Entire industries are being absorbed by China because of low prices. I was shocked at what I saw and was totally turned off, having no desire to purchase anything.

I had no idea I had such a bias. I have no direct reason to feel this way and never have before. I was extremely surprised to discover this issue even existed in me. It was strong and impossible to ignore. So I have thought about it and in a very graphic way I felt under ‘their’ control and I was not very happy about this change of events. Its not about the Chinese people at all. It  is about what feels  like an economic takeover, that we should be protecting ourselves against this occurring rather than participating in it. Additionally, as I recalled the issue of lead in toys and the additives to the food processing that were causing sickness and death, may have also tainted my view and eroded any possibility for my trusting the Chinese enterprise system.

I am not talking about political correctness or even social sensitivity to diversity or anything like that. I am talking about how I felt and how I reacted. I was unwilling to buy anything because it all came from China and I did not want to support  what seems like my own demise…right or wrong that is how I felt.

Bigoted, biased, not politically correct, wrong, socially ignorant, yes…but this is how I feel.

Here is the point, I believe I am not alone, and I believe such strong feelings may be one way the individual small shop owner can compete successfully with the big box stores and other major national competitors which rely on importing cheap goods from China.

It is enough that the Chinese lend this country billions of dollars, and have purchased enormous amounts of property and as well and many valuable and important businesses. Exporting to us major amounts of food items, medicine, vitamins, clothes etc. etc. etc…..the list goes on.

Given an opportunity, I and others would pay more to buy ‘made in America’. Not everyone will  agree but if the small business owner is going to successfully compete with the incredible buying power of the Big Box stores then the small business owner must discover its advantages and utilize them in their marketing effort.

I believe a Made in America alternative to Made in China, even though at a lower price, will win enough of the market to warrant the approach.

This strategy will not work everywhere and is not for every store in every neighborhood, but where the facts line up, the opportunity is valuable and should not be overlooked.

We are fighting a number of important battles in our country, attempting to redefine our identity. That was what the past election was all about and It is clear that we yearn for the time that America was great in the eyes of the world as well as its citizens, and that too is part of the basis of my repulsion in discovering such a huge Chinese influence in our economic structure. This is one part of our not being as great any more. We have lost control of our economy while China is taking it over.

I can vote with my wallet and did, others will as well. Understand your strengths and build on them.

We can compete. Price is not the only factor in determining what people choose to spend their money on.

Promote made in America…see what happens.