Let people know your work is made in the USA!Do you get people asking if you are a local artist or if your work is Made in the USA? If you are a local artist and the materials you use are from the good 'ol US of A, you need to let people know it.In today's market there is a HUGE demand for locally made products - honey, produce, gifts with local flair such as souvenirs, recycled nostalgic crafts, culture influenced art and crafts.... The tourism industry - which is profitable in any market - is one many artist/crafts people are targeting and getting their name out there regarding their homegrown work. Pottery made locally with hometown names on them, Christmas ornaments, rag rugs, purses, recycled jewelry (like earrings made from local sea glass) - they are all in high demand. Why? Because consumers are more likely now than before to want to support people who do create items Made in the USA. With many toys made in China being recalled, USA jobs going over seas, are all pushes to drive more Americans to buy local in order to support the American economy. Inform anyone willing to listen that you are a local artist and supporting local artists (with items made in the USA) also helps build and is an investment in local economies.How can you show that your work is made locally or made in the USA? The easiest thing to do is have an 8x11 sign (bigger might be better) in your booth stating "My art is PROUDLY made in the USA" or "Locally Made Products Sold Here". Sometimes the sign alone will draw people in to see get a better look at what you make. Another idea is to make (or use) labels and use them as apart of your pricing stickers/hang tags. Try displaying a few small American flags with a tag stating Made in the USA. Put Made in the USA on all your promo material - websites (every page), business cards (on the back if you don't have room on the front), and on brochures or fliers that you give out to people for your up and coming shows.Of course this can help with Memorial Day events and the weekend shows leading up to Independance Day, this is something that should be done year around to remind the public that it is important to buy items made in the USA.Michelle Sholundwww.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.comCome visit my website, www.bythebaybotanicals.com
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Bar Codes by Robert Robert Carriveau(I want to pass this on as I got this email this morning). Thought it would be appropriate to pass on in this forum especially those looking to have a "leg up" on the whole "Made in China" stuff.)Very good info! I'm not buying anything else Made in China . We had 2 foreign exchange students from China living with us & they always checked bar codes. They would put some things down and say 'no good - not same as in China ' When we asked them about that later, they said China sends the inferior things to the U.S.A. , for what its worth.Bar Codes Identify Country of Origin - Be Sure to Check ThemThe whole world is scared of China-made 'black hearted goods'. Can you differentiate which one is made in the USA ,Philippines , Taiwan or China ?For example, the first 3 digits of the bar code reflect the country code where the product was made.All bar codes that start with 690, 691, 692, thru 695 are MADE IN CHINA.Bar code items starting with 471 are Made in Taiwan.Chinese businessmen know that American consumers don't prefer products 'Made in China ', so they don't show from which country it originates any longer.However, you may now refer to the barcode. Remember if the first 3 digits are in the range 690-695, then it is Made in China .00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA30 ~ 37 FRANCE40 ~ 44 GERMANY49 ~ JAPAN50 ~ UK57 ~ Denmark64 ~ Finland76 ~ Switzerland & Lienchtenstein471 ~ Taiwan480 ~ Philippines628 ~ Saudi Arabia629 ~ UAE ( United Arab Emirates )740-745 ~ Central AmericaPlease inform your family and friends.It is our human right to know, but its not the government's job to educate the public, just to rake in the taxes.Therefore, we have to protect ourselves & make everyone aware.
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