PPB November 2017

99 percent of the company’s product line is USA-made. “We are having a year of growth here at Drum-Line,” Barnes says. “The Trump administration’s focus on American manufacturing has been positive for us. Other obstacles with imports—such as rising costs and production and shipping delays—may be reasons buyers are sourcing domestically.” Buy American, Hire American Why is buying U.S.-made items important to some clients? “Outside of patriotism, the reason people buy American-made is probably just because it’s the right thing to do,” says Bruce Felber, MAS, corporate brand specialist for Holland, Ohio-based distributor The Image Group. “They feel like our country should be supporting itself.” Terry McGuire, senior vice president of marketing for Sterling, Illinois-based distributor HALO Branded Solutions, says supporting U.S.-made promotional products is always good for business. “Using U.S.-made products is an additional way to differentiate your company and your brand,” he adds. Cost is a factor, but there are so many benefits to buying American-made products that distributors can get past this impasse by leveraging their sales skills. “Distributors should be selling advertising value,” Barnes says. “Adding even a small amount of customization that is not available online will make a distributor more valuable in the long-run.” Another way for distributors to influence clients to buy U.S.-made products is by appealing to them on an emotional level. “Distributors can say to their clients, ‘Look, we’re here to support our country,’” Felber says. “‘Isn’t it worth a few dollars more to keep Americans working as opposed to sending jobs overseas?’” Product quality and safety are other factors. “When the supplier manufactures the product in the U.S., orders turn faster and more reliably, and without the safety concerns of direct importing,” Barnes Polls vs. Promotional Products As Political Predictors Blanchester, Ohio-based supplier The Allen Company is apparently the go-to source for political candidates who want to buy U.S.-made promotional mugs for their campaigns. From Barack and Bernie to Cruz and McCain, The Allen Company has provided products for many of the campaigns in recent years. The company produces about 20,000 mugs a day. “Every four years, when the general election campaigning begins, The Allen Company produces mugs for nearly all the presidential candidates, no matter which party they’re with,” says Stan Dohan, MAS, president of The Allen Company. “We’re like Switzerland—we take the business and we do it all. We don’t take sides.” During campaign season, polls are popular, but there may be an easier way to predict who will win the ticket. Keep your eyes on the prize: promotional products. “Since 1959, the president and vice president ticket that has run the most mugs with us has won the general election every time,” Dohan says. “Usually, the difference is in the tens of thousands. However, in the 2016 election, the Trump/Pence ticket finished narrowly ahead, with only 1,482 more mugs than Clinton/Kaine.” For more ideas on American-made promotional products, check out the Made In The USA pavilion at The PPAI Expo 2018 in Las Vegas. It’s filled with dozens of products that are made in America. Show days are January 16-18, 2018 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, and the pavilion is open during show times. For more details and to register, visit www.ppai.org/expo. Photo provided by The Allen Company | NOVEMBER 2017 | 39 GROW