First, a bit of education. A product claiming to be “Made in the USA” or “American Made” must be at least 97% assembled in the United States from U.S.-made parts, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Some products are given “qualifications,” such as “Assembled in the United States” or “Made of 75% U.S.-Manufactured Parts.” (We will always tell you what FTC criteria certain products meet if this is a factor in your selection.)

Here are several good reasons for choosing American-made products:

If your target audience has a political or brand-related issue. For example, in recent years, university students have been vocal in their demand for products that do not violate human rights. They seek U.S.-made goods to ensure against the use of sweatshop labor.

When deadlines matter. Sometimes a deadline is too tight for the extended production and shipping time required for overseas products. We work with many American manufacturers that have the ability to customize and ship to events within less than a week’s time.

Patriotism. There’s a lot of good will that comes from showing your support for our men and women in uniform and/or your patronage of manufacturers who keep jobs in the United States. As the economy and U.S. security are hot-button issues, you would do well to contribute to the American cause. (We can also include a hangtag on your products that tout the “Made-in-the-USA” origination.)

Peace of mind is worth every penny. While U.S.-made goods might cost a little extra (though not always), it’s far easier to monitor production when a vendor is U.S.-based. Typically, quality control standards are higher, with better government regulation. And if your promotion involves items for children where safety is paramount or, due to brand representation, you need a higher perceived value that could be undermined by malfunction, a USA-made product is a wise choice.

We have many factories that can meet your needs, from apparel for uniforms to drinkware for giveaways. Give me a call at 212-868-1813 or send me an e-mail and we’ll begin to put U.S. manufacturing to work for your company’s benefit!