PPB August 2016

62 / 116

60 • PPB • AUGUST 2016 GROW
American Dragon
ways, a big win for the Made in
USA movement. I’m guessing
that Walgreen’s board and man-
agement were spooked by the
social media backlash that
ensued from their announce-
ment. That backlash is enabled
(and ennobled) by the entire
Made in USA movement which
has rallied a critical mass of
Main Street Americans who
resent it when multinational
companies drape the American
flag over their shoulders while
offshoring jobs and seeking over-
seas tax havens. Of course, there
is nothing illegal about tax inver-
sions or offshoring; just don't
take those actions while market-
ing your company as a Main
Street American brand and
expect folks in the Made in USA
movement to swallow it. We
aren’t that naïve—and we’re
clearly not shy about whipping
up a storm.
Shortly after the adverse
publicity of the Walgreen saga,
the Obama administration tight-
ened tax rules to make tax inver-
sions less lucrative and more dif-
ficult to execute. He or the next
president might also consider
taking a tip from “Strategic
Capitalism” and champion what
Richard D’Aveni calls “corporate
patriotism.” D’Aveni notes that
in the push toward globalization
we have lost sight of placing
national needs over corporate
needs. Present and future admin-
istrations should consider using
their bully pulpit to help reverse
that trend.
Government will never be
the answer to regaining our edge
as manufacturers. Policies and
programs change with each
administration, and there is no
consistent overarching plan. But
government can take the above
steps to provide small to mid-
size manufacturers a business
environment less skewed in
favor of overseas competitors.
Just give us something
approaching a level playing
field, Washington, D.C., and
we’ll take care of the rest.
Michael McKeldon Woody is presi-
dent and founder of International
Marketing Advantages, Inc., a con-
sulting firm specializing in strate-
gic marketing and international
business in Providence, Rhode
Island, and CEO of textile manu-
facturer Trans-Tex LLC.
Previously, he was an executive
with former industry supplier, the
Quill Company. Woody served four
years on the PPAI board and was
chair in 1999. In 2013, he was
honored with PPAI’s Distinguished
Service Award.
• 844-251-8544 (toll free)