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By Kim Olenicoff, 6 July, 2009 11:53 am

After all the flag-waving and red, white & blue of this past weekend, I started to feel my patriotism return.  At one point, to my dismay, I realized that we were decorated with cheap foreign-made kitsch, drinking Russian vodka, and watching fireworks made in China.  (Sadly, there is just one sparkler manufacturer left in the USA. www.fireworks.com)

I have several friends who have shut down their business in the past year because they couldn’t survive.  They were in the apparel business and manufactured all of their goods in the USA.  The designs were beautiful, and they received a large amount of press coverage.  Sure, their prices were high, but they were about even with other upscale lines.  However, at the end of the day, neither of them could sell enough volume to cover their costs.  And the loss didn’t stop with them, but was also felt by their suppliers.

It’s easy for us to sit around and complain about the economy, but here are some easy things we can do to help the US out of our slump.  (If you are already doing this, then feel free to complain all you want!)

Check the Label:  Get in the habit of checking the tags on possible purchases.  If it is not made in the USA, pass.  Remember that every item made in the USA supports more than the company that manufacturers it.  It supports domestic freight companies, domestic materials suppliers, domestic box manufacturers, etc.  And don’t just dis’ China, but forego the European stuff, too.

Support American Businesses:  Yes, we all love Target, which is an American company, based in good-old Minneapolis.  However, a big portion of what they sell isn’t made in the US.  But there are still items that are.  I’m not saying you have to break up with your favorite retailer, but I am encouraging you to send a message to them that their best customers are choosing domestic goods.

There are great small domestic businesses, too, which I think are waaaay more hip.  I love to buy gifts for others from my friends’ companies, which really is the gift that keeps on giving. 

She and Me Chemise

Nicolita Limonada Bikini Top

Stop Buying Crap:  Really.  How much stuff do we need?  Ditch the storage unit. (It’s so 90’s.)  You can’t take it with you.  And you are not a seagull: the shiny necklaces and the fun totes are not going to make your life any better and are just cleaning out your bank account $9.99 at a time.  If you must purchase ephemeral garbage, at least go for the used stuff on eBay, craigslist, or in local thrift stores so that it is not encouraging production of even more foreign junk and is also preventing overfilling our landfills. 

And then stand on your desk (hopefully it is not from Pottery Barn) and proudly sing like The Boss.