“Is it Made in America?” or “How can I assure my cleaning business is sourcing American made green cleaning products?” These are common questions from those starting cleaning businesses, especially a green cleaning service.
In our global economy that is comprised of worldwide supply chains, it is much easier to ask the question than to provide a clear answer. American-made is not a term that can be applied wholesale; instead, it reflects a percentage of content. While purists may shudder at the globalized economy, pure American-ness is no longer realistic.
Made in America
“Made in the U.S.A.” is the term used by many companies and is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. The claim is presented in many ways “Made in America” or “Made in the US” or “American made” or “Handcrafted in the USA” or “Machined in the USA” or “Designed in the USA” or “USA from imported parts” or “Assembled in USA”.
It is so complicated that there are over forty pages of regulations to recap what is and is not included. That said basically the objective is to ensure that a significant cost of production. It is so complex in fact that many companies shy away from any claims despite the manufacturing may, in fact, be done in the U.S.
For instance, Cars.com’s 2012 American-Made Index listed the top-ranking vehicle the Toyota Camry, made in Kentucky with an American engine and transmission, not as we would expect Ford, Chevy, or GM car.
According to a new report prepared for the National Retail Federation, imported products sold in the United States, from clothing to cars, contain far more U.S. parts or other value, and support significantly more American jobs than consumers or policymakers realize.
The Real Question
Going to the implied root of the inquiry, the question may be reframed to “Am I supporting the American economy by purchasing from your company?”
For example if you purchase a handmade item made in Virginia, even if it is made with foreign parts, over a similar item made in China, you know your money is going to a local artisan / small business owner and supporting the local economy.
Green Cleaning Products LLC’s answer to that question is a resounding YES. We are a certified women-owned and controlled business enterprise (WBE) that is a small business. Although we offer products that may begin their journey to you in another country, we purchase all of our products from small businesses in the USA and the product is completed in the good old U.S. of A. The green cleaning products we offer are transformed with the significant cost of production happening in the U.S. as we wish to ensure you receive the highest quality product available.
As Jane Goodall says, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference; you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” With that, a key message in the question “Am I supporting the American economy by purchasing from your company?” relates to the impact of small business on the U.S. economy.
Impact of Small Business on USA Economy
While small businesses may not generate as much money as large corporations, they are a critical component of and major contributor to the strength of local economies. Small businesses present new employment opportunities and serve as the building blocks of the United States’ largest corporations. Even better small businesses also help stimulate economic growth by providing employment opportunities to people who may not be employable by larger corporations. For instance, the U.S. market for household cleaning products industry is a $14 billion one that is increasing.
According to Entrepreneur Magazine there are between 25 million and 27 million small businesses in the U.S. that account for 60 to 80 percent of all U.S. jobs. Furthermore, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), estimates that small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. Millions of those jobs are small business cleaning employees serving the cleaning service industry.
Creativity is the crux of what fuels our American economy. By bringing growth and innovation to the community in which the business is established small businesses contribute to local economies in yet another way. Small businesses tend to attract talent who invent new products or implement new solutions for existing ideas. Revealed from recent study by Paychex is that small businesses actually produce 13 times more patents than larger firms!
The truth is there is nothing small about small businesses on the impact they have on our economy. We often hear that small businesses are the engines of job creation in the United States. Their value and the role they play in our economy is sometimes underestimated because, they are in fact, small. In reality small businesses have generated 64 percent of new jobs, and paid 44 percent of the total United States private payroll, according to the SBA.
“Is it Made in America?” is a great question to ask as you develop and grow your cleaning business. Especially if you have a green cleaning company there is a good chance that you will be asked. Be ready to answer the question.
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