CELIA RACHAEL

This evening I googled Made in the USA products and an awesome sight came up, CELIA RACHEL. I hadn't even been searching for anything in particular but when I found this site, I was taken back to days gone by when all of the knitting mills, sewing factories, etc were going strong. Click on their About Us page to find out how they decided to keep their manufacturing company here in the USA while so many others started outsourcing.

They make flannel, satin and Jersey knit sheet sets at really affordable prices. I didn't see any different prices than what you would buy in any retail store. I think I am going to buy one of the Supersuede comforters, they run around $31.00 for a King size. They are supposed to be very highly washable. I'll let you know how I like mine when I get it.

They also make women's pj's, nightgowns and some other ladies items. You have to check it out. I was very impressed with the sight. At first it seemed a little difficult to navigate around the site, but once I started browsing I had no problem.

The good news is that until November 30th, their shipping is FREE if you buy $75.00 or more. Hopefully they will do the free shipping again and again until after Christmas.

Check out this great website. Celia Rachael.com

Protect Made In USA label!

Everyone, this is so important. Please read the following article by Roger Simmermaker about a very important issue. You're not going to believe this one!

Protect the 'Made in USA' label
Our Buy American Mention of the Week!
by Roger Simmermaker
October 31, 2009


Do you feel the 'Made in USA' label and its integrity and value should be protected? If so, how would you feel if the integrity and value of that proud label was in danger of being watered-down, lost or eliminated altogether?

That is precisely the case right now in the state of California where lock maker Kwikset Corp. is attempting to get around complying with a number of state statutes after years of falsely labeling their products 'Made in USA' when they were actually being imported from Mexico.

A trial court found that 25 of Kiwket's products were illegally labeled (Kwikset admitted that two others were illegally labeled). But a court of appeal overturned that judgment on the basis of recently enacted Proposition 64 which says that a consumer or business would have to prove they suffered a "loss of money or property" as a result of false advertising. And, because they could not show that the lockset products had any less market value due to the false 'Made in USA' advertising, the court claims no injury has occurred. Essentially, the Court of Appeal held that the 'Made in USA' label has no market value and therefore consumers do not lose anything when they buy products falsely labeled as 'Made in USA.'

Kwisket's defense lawyers would have us believe that if domestic manufacturing is destroyed to the point that there is only one company in a given industry could legally claim their products were made in USA, then no one is hurt by their false advertising and the 'Made in USA' label is meaningless.

Luckily we have a patriotically-motivated lead attorney representing the plaintiff in Mike Lenett, who is doing everything he can to protect and defend the integrity and value of the 'Made in USA' label for this case.

Actually, you would think Black & Decker-owned Kwikset would want the coveted 'Made in USA' label so survive as well since they used it in one form or another for several years. Kwikset has in the past proclaimed its products were 'Made in USA,' 'All American Made,' and 'American Made and Proud Of It.'

That supposed pride evaporated when the company closed their American factory in Anaheim, Ca. where wage rates averaged $15-$18 an hour to take advantage of Mexican wage rates which average $1.60-$2.60 an hour. The factory closure in Anaheim in 1996 ended over a half-century of production in that location. And now Black & Decker is building a new Kwikset factory in China.

It's important to understand that the significance of this case stretches beyond Anaheim, and can really affect the rest of America as well. Even if you're not a lock manufacturer like Kwikset; even if you're the owner of a company in a completely different industry; even if you're not a business owner; and even if you're consumer who has never even purchased a door lock in your life, the outcome of this case will have meaning to you.

This case is about protecting your choice to buy American, and helping and protecting other companies who stay in America to employ their own people. If companies like Kwikset are allowed to engage in false advertising, and a court will rule that there is no harm and no foul since there was "loss of money or property" because of the blatantly false advertising, the 'Made in USA' label will lose its value, its integrity, and become nothing more than a meaningless, sentimental slogan.

Attorney Mike Lennet has asked me to spread the word and urge concerned consumers and business owners to write what is called an amicus brief. Your statements can be two paragraphs or even two pages depending on the depth of your passion. Please email your comments to roger@howtobuyamerican.com and I will forward them on to Mike Lenett.

Both Mike and I have been engaged in the buy American issue for quite some time. Back in 1997 when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) made their proposal to water down the meaning of the 'Made in USA' label available for public comment and consideration, I submitted a statement that is now public record available here. We need as much ammunition to strike down the absurdity referenced in Proposition 64 for this case.

For 45 years, California's 'Made in USA' statute has protected consumers who prefer to buy American-made products from unfair and deceptive use of the 'Made in USA' label. The use of Proposition 64 threatens that honorable history. I hope you'll make your beliefs known in this case and protect the 'Made in USA' label, true American manufacturers from unfair competition, and the fraud of false labeling. And I hope you'll email me at roger@howtobuyamerican.com to help fight the good fight for the 'Made in USA' label.

No More Syracuse China

I was happy when I found some China from Syracuse New York. The name of the company was Syracuse China Corporation. They were around for many years until April of 2009. I had bought a beautiful set of dinner plates at a thrift shop and I just loved them. Even at thrift shops I won't buy unless the product is USA made. But then I decided to research the product online and was sad to see the artilce that I'm about to share with you about the plants closing.

Take a minute to read this. Because this is what is happening all over America today. Plant after plant is closing and sending their production oversees like never before. It is so sad to read about workers who's whole livlihood is lost. It is really hard to start over after working at the same place for 20+ years.

If you can do anything, add another quarter to your Made in USA fund and when you go shopping, take a minute to see where that product is made. Buy American if you can, we don't want China getting anymore of our American companies.

Read about Syracuse China Corporations Closing in 2009