Outsourced out of a job "Made in America"-Courtney Jeffcott

This is a very different topic than my usual design advice and furniture quandaries. I feel it is necessary to touch upon this subject because of how deeply it effects myself and many of the talented people I work with. Today many households number one worries is money. Yep, money, it is what shelters us, puts food in our mouths and sometimes allows us the little luxuries we desire. The furniture industry began saving money and in turn began saving buyers money about 7 years ago. They did so by outsourcing much of the labor it requires to create furniture. There has always been concerns about American made furniture vs Asian manufactured furniture. Sadly this will often effect the outcome of a purchase. When a client asks is it made in America, my heart sinks. "What is made in America anymore?" Truly, not a lot. Many of the companies are still American owned and ran but with labors laws in America the price of furniture began to get to high for the average consumer. So the industry took action to lower the price that a buyer pays. This resulted in outsourced labor. On a daily basis I am faced with clients asking for a lower price on the item or items they want. I want all future buyers to understand that if the furniture they were considering was made in America the price would be considerable higher. You want to keep our jobs in America? Then pay the price it takes to pay our workers. You can not take without a little give.