Michelle Thelen’s website ichooseamerican.com links consumers to US made goods
East Lansing, MI (StateNewsWire) Nov 14, 2011 — Budding web entrepreneur and unabashed patriot Michelle Thelen has launched a new website, ichooseamerican.com. The site helps connect consumers and also businesses and buyers to U.S.-made goods – from apparel to home decor to gifts for men, women, babies and pets.
“If stores in our country would commit to purchasing just 25 percent of their goods from USA vendors, “we could improve our economy and lower unemployment rates,” says Thelen, 43, a former boutique owner, handbag designer and retail buyer based in Michigan. She is now leading the Made-in-the-USA charge as the country gears up for its traditional holiday shopping weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
“We’re urging people to rethink their commitment to our great nation and its products, rather than buying overseas,” she said. “We just need to get back to supporting local artisans and those who create products inside our shores. It’s the right thing to do and one way to keep our economy growing and our talented workers working. All of us can agree on that.”
Thelen’s website represents the products of jewelry makers, leather craftsmen and talented artisans who create unique gifts. It offers one stop shopping – for moms who want cute holiday ideas to fresh products for boutiques and stores that may be on the hunt for USA vendors, but having a tough time finding those in one spot. Thelen does not sell anything herself, but rather hosts the sellers and products, representing them to potential buyers and linking them online from her site.
“People I have met have been heartened to find out there is someone who is able to connect them to products made in the USA,” she said. “Often, there isn’t enough time for them to do the searching directly. We’ve made that easier for them by doing the legwork with an eye on quality. Most are thrilled to be able to buy quality made-in-America gifts.”
Thelen, who took her all-American idea to the Beckman Handcrafted Trade show in Chicago this summer to offer the retail stores a “go to” for great products that offer the made in the USA label. It is not that retail stores do not want to add American made products, it is just hard to find at shows. Thelen is working with the American Museum Association. She will speak to the group at its annual meeting in New Orleans in April 2012. Attendees will see firsthand how they can effectively change the economy, lower unemployment rates and pioneer change in the retail sector.
In the meantime, she is urging businesses and buyers, many hurt in the ongoing recession, to rethink where their products come from and to reconsider the importance of keeping money and talent right in their own nation.
“This is beyond big government, this is a choice.”
ABOUT
Michelle Thelen is an all-American businesswoman dedicated to supporting retail and consumer goods that are made in the United States. Her website ichooseamerican.com link consumers to American-made goods.
CONTACT
Tina Heaton
Heaton PR, publicist
248-613-3898
tina@revinity.com
http://www.ichooseamerican.com
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