Making Things Around the USA

Once a year this newsletter celebrates vendors who make their products in the USA. Here are some familiar brands and some newcomers.

Pennsylvania

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.

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.

A worker runs a machine in the process of making Channel Craft's train whistle, while others work on the company's trademark boomerang.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 factoryWorkers imprint toys in the printing room at Channel Craft’s factory
Channel Craft founder Dean Helfer with the van in which he began making American Pasttimes toys.Channel Craft founder Dean Helfer with the van in which he began making American Pasttimes toys.

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!

Georgia

A Grandparent Gift Company employee assembles a A Grandparent Gift Company employee assembles a “heart” sentiment gift.

The Grandparent Gift Co. started with a single sentiment and has grown to hundreds of gift items for all family members and all occasions. Owned by Teri Harrison, the Alpharetta, Georgia, has been in the gift industry for nearly 30 years. The company started selling USA-made greeting cards, framed prints and other sentiment gifts in the mid 1990’s. The company still depends on local printers and suppliers for components in over half their total gift assortment from US vendors. The company’s popular stained glass hearts are handmade in Heartland of the United States and assembled with the companies original sentiments in their Alpharetta, Georgia warehouse. The stained glass hearts join the company’s assortment of other popular handmade glass items made by small USA crafters. Each cross and heart offering stores a one-of-a-kind gift at great wholesale prices. The company is constantly innovating gift ideas and creating new American made gifts for the whole family and for all occasions.

Minnesota

Dutch House Confections is a small business in rural, central Minnesota. They specialize in homemade-style caramel candy. Their beginning goes back to 1997 when the goal was simply to make a little extra money. Today they operate in a 10,000 square foot facility and employ 10 people.

Butter from Minnesota and Wisconsin dairy farms is added by a Dutch House Confections worker to her batch of caramel.Butter from Minnesota and Wisconsin dairy farms is added by a Dutch House Confections worker to her batch of caramel.
Cin Chili boxes ready for shippingA Dutch House employee runs the cooled caramel through a machine that cuts it in strips.

While expanding their operation they continued to focus on quality products and quality customer service. At tradeshows, you often hear buyers commenting that it is the best caramel they ever tasted. This comes through careful selection of ingredients and continued hands-on approach to production. Their current cooking equipment is capable of completing a batch in half the time used by Dutch House employees, but they learned that patience produces a tastier end-result.

Texas

Cin Chili boxes ready for shippingCin Chili boxes ready for shipping.

Are you tired of bland and boring meals? Look no further than Cin Chili Company, a family-owned business with 19 years of experience in the industry. Our high-quality dry seasoning mixes, hot sauces, and unique pickle products including Passion Pickles habanero and ghost flavor and Pickle Sips in dill and sweet heat flavors are sure to add a kick to any dish. But don’t just take our word for it – we’ve won the CASI International Chili Cook-Off two years in a row and have been featured on The Food Network’s Throwdown With Bobby Flay: The Chili Challenge. Our commitment to quality means we will never sacrifice flavor for price. So why settle for boring food when you can spice up your life with Cin Chili Company?

…and more!

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.comUSMadeWholesale.com or in the CAMEOEZ.com directory.

  • Ala Carte Alice
  • Betsy Drake
  • Billy Joe Homewares
  • Christ Visions
  • Christina’s Clean Creations
  • Crown Mulling Spices
  • Doles Orchard Box Shop
  • The Dish
  • ER Sales
  • Ergo Candles Inc.
  • Freeheart
  • The Fudge & Snack People
  • Gina B Designs
  • Holiday Fried Pecans
  • Hot Ruby
  • HuggyBox
  • Jillson Roberts
  • Kai Pua
  • Kiss Me In The Garden
  • KraftWorks
  • Lynn’s Lavender
  • MikWright
  • Northridge Gardens
  • Oatmeal Studios
  • Pat Pearlman Designs
  • Pocket Plus
  • The Professionals
  • Pure Factory Naturals
  • Pure Mana
  • Sassy’s
  • Smith Amish
  • Snazzy & Company
  • Staywell Copper
  • SOi Essentials
  • Spiker
  • Studio B
  • Sun Day Greetings
  • Whispers (Under Stellas Umbrella)
  • Tangico
  • Vintage Girl Designs
  • Wild Hare Designs

Federal Government and Manufacturers Large and Small Making Moves to “Made in USA”

Annual Made in USA Special Issue

Soaring shipping costs from the Far East, combined with supply chain disruption and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have accelerated efforts by U.S. and European manufacturers to bring manufacturing closer to home. This continues a trend that has been ongoing for a couple of decades. In this special, annual “Made in USA” issue, we again examine the status of making things in America.

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

During his first week in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 14005, “Ensuring the Future is Made in America by All of America’s Workers,” which launched an initiative to strengthen the use of federal procurement to support American Manufacturing.

A January, 2022 survey by UBS found that more than 90% of executives said they were either in the process of moving production out of China or planned to do so. About 80% were looking at sites in the U.S. or Mexico.

A few years ago, this trend was accelerated by concern over toxic materials in products coming from China. Companies like GE Appliance began moving water-heater production to Louisville, KY and other lines followed suit. GE found that savings on shipping offset higher U.S. labor costs.

Novellis similarly moved an aluminum can plant to Bay Minette, AL to address concerns about sustainable packaging. US Steel built a plant in Osceola, AR and Intel moved two chip factories to Phoenix.

A Tangico worker organizes products for shipmentA Tangico worker organizes products for shipment.
Inset: Products in the laser engraver.

Walmart is in the ninth year of a two-decade plan to onshore production of its products. Walmart has been the largest retail importer of hard goods in the U.S. (information above comes from this article)

Here are a few manufacturers who continue to make things in the USA.

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.

Sue Kinch, owner of Tangico in Pontiac, Michigan says, “Made in the USA products combined with quick turnaround allows retailers to minimize inventory carrying costs.” Tangico hires individual overcoming addiction, abuse, and homelessness for 7-10 shipping. Engraving, barcoding, and shipping orders restores self-esteem so employees can get back on their feet.


Top, a Grandparent Gift Company worker inserts sentiment cards in a frame.
Below, stacks of are frames ready for shipping.

The Grandparent Gift Co. of Alpharetta, Georgia, has been in the gift industry for 28 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.


Above, Betsy Drake works on an original painting. Inset, a Hibiscus floral design, applied to a
corded pillow.

Owned by Teri Harrison, the company started selling USA-made greeting cards, framed prints and other sentiment gifts in the mid 1990’s. The company still depends on local printers and suppliers for components in over half their total gift assortment from US vendors. The company’s popular, best-selling handmade glass crosses are made in Texas and assembled in the Alpharetta warehouse.

In late 2022, the company will relaunch the sentiment that started the company, Grandma’s Heart; available to retailers in Fall, 2022.

Betsy Drake is the name of an artist in North Carolina who, after 30 years in retail sales and management, took up painting and launched a wholesale business featuring prints of her artwork and also that of her husband, Dick Hamilton. Investing in a cut and sew manufacturing facility just north of Atlanta, GA, Betsy and Dick now feature hundreds of unique designs on decorative pillows, towels, coasters, doormats, placemats, shower curtains and more.

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.comUSMadeWholesale.com or in the CAMEOEZ.com directory.

  • Ala Carte Alice
  • Billy Joe Homewares
  • Blair Cedar
  • Channel Craft
  • Christ Visions
  • Christina’s Clean Creations
  • Crown Mulling Spices
  • Doles Orchard Box Shop
  • The Dish
  • ER Sales
  • Ergo Candles Inc.
  • Evolve Botanica
  • Freeheart
  • The Fudge & Snack People
  • Gina B Designs
  • Hilson Gallery
  • Hot Ruby
  • HuggyBox
  • Jillson Roberts
  • Kai Pua
  • Kiss Me In The Garden
  • KraftWorks
  • Lynn’s Lavender
  • Kai Pua
  • Mana Mandala
  • MikWright
  • Nature’s Retreat
  • Northridge Gardens
  • Oatmeal Studios
  • Pat Pearlman Designs
  • Pocket Plus
  • Prissy Plates
  • The Professionals
  • Pure Factory Naturals
  • Pure Mana
  • Rocking the Clock
  • Sassy’s
  • Smith Amish
  • Snazzy & Company
  • Staywell Copper
  • SOi Essentials
  • Spiker
  • Studio B
  • Sun Day Greetings
  • Whispers (Under Stellas Umbrella)
  • Vintage Girl Designs
  • Whimsy Me
  • Wild Hare Designs

Hot Ruby Opens B2B Website for its Family Recipe

Hot Ruby (opens in a new tab) has opened its CAMEO EZ© B2B website. Hot Ruby is the perfect addition to your mug on a cozy evening. Unlike typical cider, Hot Ruby’s family recipe marries cranberry and citrus juices with an exquisite blend of spices. Add your favorite spirits for a special treat! Hot Ruby is certain you will find comfort in every heated or iced cup of Hot Ruby, time and time again.

Made In USA May Be More Important Than Ever

Annual Made in USA Special Issue

(Feature article from Made In USA Annual Special Issue)

Newly printed 'The She Collection' books sit in displays at Gently Spoken's Minnesota warehouse, ready to ship (opens in a new tab)Newly printed “The She Collection” books sit in displays at Gently Spoken’s Minnesota warehouse.

Since 2007, each October, this newsletter has featured made-in-USA wholesalers. This year, it may be more important than ever for retailers in the USA to support domestic manufacturers, what with international shipping costs skyrocketing, as we saw in our last newsletter (opens in a new tab). Once again we focus on USA-made products.

We begin in the midwest of the country, in Oak Grove, Minnesota, where Gently Spoken (opens in a new tab) prints its “Eat Your Peas” Collection of inspirational books. The company also has a “Sweet Sayings” Notepad Collection. Empowering and inspiring, the new “She Collection” has been a retail sensation. Pair with jewelry, lotions, candles and more to add sentiment to any gift. The She Collection will jazz up a Christmas stocking or Secret Santa gift. Each booklet features 12 tear-out affirmations to spread encouragement all around. New 2021 designs just launched are only $2.50 each and Quick Ship Complete.

A Tangico worker inspects newly engraved products. Inset: close up of wine stoppers in engraverA Tangico worker inspects newly engraved products. Inset: close up of wine stoppers in engraver.

Next, going East near the Canadian border, Tangico (opens in a new tab) makes its products in its facility in Pontiac, Michigan. The company specializes in Michigan-themed engraved products such as wine stoppers, coasters, wood stickers, ornaments, magnets, bottle openers, cutting boards, wall décor, signs and much more. Tangico offers individualized engraving of custom designs and wording.

Continuing East to Pennsylvania, Channel Craft (opens in a new tab) 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 enters settings into a machine which makes wooden train whistles at Channel Craft's Pennsylvania plantA worker enters settings into a machine which makes wooden train whistles at Channel Craft’s Pennsylvania plant.

Now we head South to just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Evolve Botanica (opens in a new tab) is bringing Modern Skincare with Herbal Roots. “Skincare With a Twist” is the company’s tagline. Combining the highest-quality ingredients with ethical production and its ongoing local ingredient sourcing choices, EvolveBotanica leads the industry by example toward sustainable skincare. Products include Bath Bombs, Bath & Shower, Lip Balm, Soaps and Skin Care. “We want our customers to learn about not just our products,” the company says, “but our ingredients and our local community partners, and what makes them different from the big brand names.”

EvolveBotanica prides itself on locally sourced ingredients like these in their soaps. EvolveBotanica products are 100% cruelty freeEvolveBotanica prides itself on locally sourced ingredients like these in their soaps. EvolveBotanica products are 100% cruelty free.

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

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 (opens in a new tab), one of OmegaNet’s portals.

Finally, below is a list of OmegaNet Inc./CAMEO EZ© vendors besides those above who are all or partially Made in USA. You will find more information at GiftsWholesale.Com or CAMEOEZ.com. Some vendors may use components that are not Made in USA but designed and assembled in this country. Further in “Featured Vendors” you will find Made-In-USA vendors indicated by the red, white and blue backgrounds.

  • Ala Carte Alice
  • Betsy Drake Interiors
  • Billy Joe Homewares
  • Blair Cedar
  • Christ Visions
  • Christina’s Clean Creations
  • Cinda B Enterprises
  • Crown Mulling Spices
  • Doles Orchard Box Shop
  • Decorum
  • The Dish
  • ER Sales
  • Ergo Candles Inc.
  • Gina B Designs
  • Gracefully Designs
  • Grandparent Gift Co. Inc.
  • Hilson Gallery
  • Holiday Fried Pecans
  • Hot Ruby
  • HuggyBox
  • Imagine Designs
  • JTP Wholesale
  • Kiss Me In The Garden
  • KraftWorks
  • Lynn’s Lavender
  • Maha CBD
  • Kai Pua
  • MikWright
  • Next Innovations
  • Northridge Gardens
  • Oatmeal Studios
  • ORL Cares
  • Pat Pearlman Designs
  • Pocket Plus
  • Prissy Plates
  • The Professionals
  • Pure Factory Naturals
  • Pure Mana
  • Richard E. Bishop Ltd.
  • Sassafras Hawaii
  • Sassy’s
  • Sincere Surroundings
  • Smile Drinkware
  • Smith Amish
  • Snazzy & Company
  • SOi Essentials
  • Spiker
  • Star Home
  • Stephanie Dawn
  • Studio B
  • Sun Day Greetings
  • Whispers (Under Stellas Umbrella)
  • Unpossible Cuts
  • Vintage Girl Designs
  • Whimsy Me
  • Wild Hare Designs

Made in USA Front and Center This Week in Washington DC

White House(Photo by Aaron Kittredge from Pexels)

In an official proclamation issued by the White House on Saturday, October 3, President Donald Trump declared Monday, October 5, 2020 “Made in America Day” and October 4 though 10 as “Made in America Week” (source (opens in a new tab)).

A worker uses a drill during the manufacture of an Imagine Design product. The company uses it's Minnesota-based manufacturing operation to provide jobs and teach job skills for people with barriers to employment.A worker uses a drill during the manufacture of an Imagine Design product. The company uses it’s Minnesota-based manufacturing operation to provide jobs and teach job skills for people with barriers to employment.

The president’s timing was perfect for this newsletter, since we have been featuring Made in USA vendors in our October issue since 2007. This year we again focus on manufacturing in the USA.

Watch the video above to see Gina B. Designs greeting cards being produced.

Originally founded in 1986 as a giftware business, Imagine Design (opens in a new tab) was acquired in 2008 by AccessAbility, Inc., a Minneapolis, Minnesota, nonprofit to serve as a social enterprise providing transitional work and training for people who have barriers to employment. The individuals from the community who work on the Imagine Design business line gain transferable skills in production, inventory, merchandising, customer service and more. Imagine Design home décor and gift items are made using the finest quality materials combined with its own unique designs of media, depth and embellishments. The result is a fun and inspirational gift line that also has a great mission!

Still in the state of Minnesota, where author Cheryl Karpen of Gently Spoken (opens in a new tab) created her gift book series “Eat Your Peas.” “Growing up on a farm taught me a lot about planting strong roots in your own community,” Cheryl says. “After I received bids from three Twin City printers to print my first gift book, I chose the printer that made a unique promise, ‘I promise to ALWAYS treat you like family.’ With more than 1 million Eat Your Peas Gift Books sold, we’ve never looked back. Why? Because our St. Paul based printer, Ideal Printers, has our back. Come and see the beauty and heart we have created together.”

>One of Cheryl Karpen’s “Eat Your Peas” books is on the press at left and a finished cover is at right.”  /><span style=One of Cheryl Karpen’s “Eat Your Peas” (Gently Spoken) books is on the press at left and a finished cover is at right.

In Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, Gina B. Designs (opens in a new tab) 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.


Kathy, a buyer for a hardware store in Michigan, is really excited about the sell-through of her Tangico product display.

Tangico (opens in a new tab), a manufacturer of gifts, souvenirs and promotional products located in Pontiac, Michigan, now has 6,000+ stock images for more than 20 Made-in-the-USA products. Tangico’s “All-In” pricing now allows retail buyers to order name dropped or fully customized products with reasonable minimums and no surprise art or set-up fees.

The Greeting Place specializes in laughter and creating jobs in Nashville, TNThe Greeting Place specializes in laughter and creating jobs in Nashville, TN

Since 1999, The Greeting Place (opens in a new tab) has been proud to create jobs in Nashville, Tennessee. From design, to printing, to supplies, and assembly, “Go Girl!” Greeting cards are Tennessee made! The Greeting Places uses its own family photos and humor to spread laughter. The company’s retailers always know when customers are at their display racks because they hear them actually laughing out loud!

Pure Factory Naturals takes pride in their Made-in-USA ingredients. At right are some finished, packaged products.
Pure Factory Naturals takes pride in their Made-in-USA ingredients. At right are some finished, packaged products.

Going south to the Atlanta area, everything from Pure Factory Naturals (opens in a new tab) is made in the company’s GMP certified plant in Smyrna, Georgia, and is 100% Gluten-, Paraben- and GMO-free. Pure Factory uses natural, beneficial ingredients in all its bath and body products, such as coconut oil, shea butter & essential oils. New products in unique and eye-catching packaging are continually being created in assortments & open stock.

Three Freeheart TumblersThree Freeheart Tumblers

Continuing on the way south, Freeheart (opens in a new tab) is based in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida. Founded in 2011, Freeheart is committed to delivering a full line of double walled insulated drinkware and deliver the absolute best quality and innovation on the market. Freeheart acquired Signature Tumbler in September, 2018. Freeheart thermal insulated drinkware is Made in the USA and keeps drinks cold & hot, has reduced condensation, and is top-rack dishwasher safe. Freeheart specializes in catering to specialty gift shops, sports & memorabilia stores, buying groups, regional retailers, advertising specialty resellers, and also does contract manufacturing for private label programs. Freeheart brand of double wall insulated drinkware is launching 20+ new designs from the Avery Jackson collection. “In consulting with Avery, we wanted to focus on designs for the specialty gift, tourist destination, coastal retail, zoo and aquarium, and also kitchenware markets,” said Rainer Kuhn, President of Freeheart Drinkware. “Consumers can’t help but stop and smile at the whimsical and emotionally appealing designs.”

Finally, below is a list of OmegaNet Inc./CAMEO EZ© vendors besides those above who are all or partially Made in USA. You will find more information at GiftsWholesale.Com (opens in a new tab) or CAMEOEZ.com (opens in a new tab). Some vendors may use components that are not Made in USA but designed and assembled in this country. Further in “Featured Vendors” you will find Made In USA vendors, indicated by the red, white and blue backgrounds.

  • Ala Carte Alice
  • Ata Boy
  • Betsy Drake Interiors
  • Billy Joe Homewares
  • Blair Cedar
  • Cinda B Enterprises
  • Cameo LLC
  • Christ Visions
  • The Cookbook Company
  • Crown Mulling Spices
  • Decorum
  • The Dish
  • ER Sales
  • Ergo Candles Inc.
  • Grandparent Gift Co. Inc.
  • Gracefully Designs
  • Hawaii Bee Company
  • Hilson Gallery
  • Holiday Fried Pecans
  • Hot Ruby
  • JTP Wholesale
  • Jeane’s Things
  • Kiss Me In The Garden
  • KraftWorks
  • Maha CBD
  • MikWright
  • My Town Art
  • Next Innovations
  • Northridge Gardens
  • Oatmeal Studios
  • Pocket Plus
  • Prissy Plates
  • The Professionals
  • Pure Mana
  • Richard E. Bishop Ltd.
  • Robicheaux Candy
  • Sassy’s
  • Sincere Surroundings
  • Sassy Stuff
  • Smile Drinkware
  • SOi Essentials
  • Smith Amish
  • Snazzy & Company
  • Spiker
  • Star Home
  • Stephanie Dawn
  • Studio B
  • Sun Day Greetings
  • The Professionals
  • Whispers (Under Stellas Umbrella)
  • Unpossible Cuts
  • Vintage Girl Designs
  • Whimsy Me
  • Wild Hare Designs