During the Great Depression one of the finest President’s of the Century, Franklin D. Roosevelt, knew that encouraging people to buy American Made meant putting Americans back to work.  

During this difficult time in our economy we need to revisit that Great Spirit and wisdom of FDR and the emphasis he put on buying Hand Made in America. Supporting made in America not only creates new jobs in our country but creates a sense of pride in our community. Buying American-made goods and supporting your local economy whenever possible, keeps money in the country, and in our cities and towns, instead of being sent overseas. It keeps our friends, neighbors and family in their jobs. It helps maintain our high standard of living, which so many of us take for granted.

An excerpt from www.madeinusa.com states “there are 305 million people living in the United States. If each one would shift $20 a month in spending from foreign-made products to American-made products, it would create 5 million new jobs.”

The purpose of this site is to inspire and support each other to continue to buy American handmade goods. It is a reminder that handmade items have a soul and enrich our lives in many ways. It also allows each of us to take control of America’s destiny and do our part in helping our economy.

From the conception of Market Square, sitting around our kitchen table 22 years ago, the emphasis was and is about the artists and craftsmen who painstakingly make their product by hand in the U.S.A.. At that time we had our own pottery business and were exhibiting at shows 15 weekends a year. It was important to us to create a show that not only focused on American-made products but also provided quality customer service that many shows were lacking. American-made and customer service has always been the heart beat of Market Square, the root of what makes our market unique and different from everyone else’s. After 22 years we are still committed to excellence.

After the close of the Fort Washington Expo Center more than three years ago we tried to run both Order Writing and Cash & Carry at the Valley Forge Convention Center. We quickly found the building was too small to promote both shows and provide a shopping environment that was based on our original principals. We knew in order for our exhibitors to be successful, we need to present our market in a buying environment that would allow buyers to see the maximum amount of exhibitors in a schedule that was no longer inconvenient, in a building that could handle both shows running concurrently. That is why we moved the show to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. Our only agenda is to bring a Market to Valley Forge that’s emphasis remains on Made in the USA in a shopping environment that is enjoyable to buyers. As a community we can work together to make a difference in this great nation of ours by simply spending more money on American-made goods. It’s inspiring to know I can make a difference.

Kathy Goodrich

http://www.marketsquareshows.com

Hello folks!
We hope you can visit our Featured Artisans’ Booths at The Quill & Well’s 1st Online Trade Show ~ The Autumn Harvest OnlineTrade Show. The Online Trade Show is scheduled for July 27th from 7pm-9:30pm EST.  Since this is a Trade Show, only qualified buyers can register to attend/Opento the Trade only.

For Primitiques, If you are interested in purchasing anything you see in our online booth, call us at these phone #’s: 610.459.1776 OR 610.500.0047 OR 610.348.9618 OR email us at primitique@cocmast.net.  Provide your form of payment at this time… All items must be paid for by the show’s end, whether we are holding on to them for you or not.  Items sell quickly during these fast-paced online shows, so DO NOT HESITATE to call us or email us to make
your purchase, or you may loose out on a one-of-a-kind deal! Items are considered SOLD when you have either spoken to us (& received a confirmation code) or receieved a Confirmation Email from Primitiques or your other participating featured artisan.

The Economy, the Law of Attraction and Local Businesses

By Beth Merryfield

As I sit at my computer today, I am writing with a strange sense of clarity and conviction on the state of our economic health and an empowering feeling that we have control over our situation.  There are many personal philosophies and beliefs merging into one connected mindset today, so I thought it best to jot them down before fleeting. 

Feeling that we have some type of control over a situation is empowering. It is an infectious and healing power.  For a while, there has been a palatable fog in the air of financial despair. The unified voice stating that the greed of others has unraveled our state of stability. As a relatively new and naïve small business owner making furniture, I have held onto our business philosophy that we must be strong allies to small brick and mortar businesses.  There have been many missed opportunities to work with importers, internet and catalog companies along the way; however, we truly believe that if we, as one small, family company, strive to protect small retail shops, that it will better our community. We heard many grumblings from many non-brick and mortar shops by choosing this path, but, more importantly, we’ve built some strong and rewarding relationships with the shops who support us.  Small steps lead to great strides… or “With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919).  That has been one of our principle tenets guiding us through owning a small business.

While we firmly believe we are doing our part as wholesalers, that is, carefully screening potential customers to be sure they own an actual brick & mortar store, I have only made some attempts at the other end of the economic equation.  That is, I have tried to support our town’s local, small businesses.  This part of the equation, for me, tends to be a little difficult because we tend to allow ourselves such little time to run errands and need to consolidate our time so tightly that we forget about the “little guys”.  For our business, we have managed to weave in almost daily support our local, family owned hardware store and try to avoid supporting the big, chain home improvement stops.  There is our local favorite sandwich shop and of course our local farms to purchase our produce but that is about it.  It was not until I saw a hand painted sign on the side of the road the day before mother’s day that said “Support your Local Shops, buy your flowers from us” that I took a fresh look around and saw at least 20 white tents with wilted flowers for sale.  I was struck by this simple sign because, until this moment, I thought I was a strong advocate for small businesses. How could I have overlooked something so clear? I had purchased many mothers’ day flowers at the supermarket and from some random tent vendor on the side of the road never having a second thought.  That has resonated with me over the past few weeks and I have been trying to perpetuate my devotion to made in the USA with our online newsletter, The Quill and Well.

It is easy to get swept away by the anti-import band wagon but I found this approach to be somewhat counterproductive, as it feeds on negative energy.  Also, it feeds a sense that we are victims and does not foster a sense of being able to “do something about it”.  It is a slippery slope to pessimism when you are focusing your energies on what is wrong and who is to blame.  Therefore, instead of giving more attention to issues pertaining to imported items, I thought it best to channel my energies to highlighting things we want, such as more attention and support for American Made products.  My dear friend Stephanie Monahan, (a talented folk artist I met while displaying at trade shows) and I decided to focus our energies on American artisans and the dedicated shop owners who support us! 

Ironically, we continually struggle with enforcing our criteria for choosing featured artisans and shop owners because to truly support Made in America takes devotion and sometimes saying no.  Shops who primarily carry hand-made goodes understand that finding American artisans is becoming more difficult and yet, it is by their offering unique, hand crafted items that sets their shops apart from others.  It is simple to say “Buy American” or to paste an American flag on the bumper of your car.  It is, I believe, a bit harder to live the bumper sticker, so to speak. It takes dedication and awareness and a positive American attitude. 

I have been “complaining” lately to friends who are willing indulge me about the poor attendances of the trade shows. I do believe that vendors/artisans and shop owners are in a relationship and if one fails, they both suffer.  Trade shows have been slow lately, an inevitable sign of the economic times.  However, if shops are not showing their support to the artisans who travel for days to set up at a show, then the artisans will no longer attend.  This dynamic is much intertwined and it can be viewed as a co-dependent relationship.  I hear time and time again at shows who is to blame for the lack of buyers.  At weaker moments, I find myself joining in and my husband and friend are quick to help me out of the negative zone… I try to quickly steady myself and focus on what I can do to be sure I am presenting my company in the best light, staying “fresh” and creating a welcoming display.  On a weirdly related point, I have been reading the Laws of Attraction (by Michael J Losierwhich), which are, in essence, a series of self-help books that teach us we attract what we put out there.  So, as you can see, I am struggling with making sense out of this ailing subculture of trade shows and wholesales to brick and mortar shops and trying to consistently view it through a more positive lens.  I have been at a loss for a new and positive way to view our situation. Thus, this has been my mini-journey to economic enlightenment.  Since I am dedicated to attracting positive energy, then positive energy and thoughts are what I must consistently put out there… right?

One could argue that the power of attraction led me to find an inspirational project that has helped me tether all of my whirling thoughts.  I would say that I stumbled on this effort, but think I know better… I was wandering around the web looking for American artists when I found “The 3/50 Project” by Cinda Baxter. “This is it!” I thought to myself. There is a powerful message here. I believe this movement is telling us that we hold the power to change things. We are in control over our situation, including our economic health!  We are not destined to be victims of the importers or an ailing economy.  The 3/50 Project has a noble slogan “Saving the Brick & Mortars our Nation is Built on”.  I felt so completely validated when I read this.  I found myself inspired by the 3/50 Project and began looking at my community in a new light.  My thoughts quickly wandered to a tiny little family owned sports memorabilia shop next to the place where we buy pretzels.  I went in this shop just once and left two feet in the front door because it was cluttered. I am going back there again this week and buying father’s day gifts for all the dads in our life. Oh, and of course I am going to buy all of my flowers from the local flower shop that made the hand painted sign, too J

This new perspective was a breath of fresh air for me! I felt all of the cynicisms and doubt I hadn’t realized I was carrying melt away.  The frustration I felt for shops who did not attend the shows was replaced with understanding of the greater roles you and I play in our economic recovery.

So, here’s our recovery plan… It is akin to the “pay it forward” philosophy that has guided many wise folks long before me and will light a path long after I am gone.  Change begins with one person.  More specifically, it begins with one purchase J Please visit the 3/50 Projects website to see how you can make a change in your community.  It is a simple yet contagious notion that will help bring us all together, again!  Thank you for taking your time to read my rantings, I do hope they were of some use and interest to you J

Beth Merryfield

Co-Editor, The Quill and Well

President of Primitiques, Ltd.

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For consideration, please email us your name, company information, photos and other helpful information (such as any articles writtne about you) at: quillandwell@comcast.net

Thank you for taking the time to visit us!

This section is a dialogue amongst artisans and retailers in our trade community. We encourage you to write your opinions of how you would handle/address the dilemmas faced within our community.  We hope to spark much thought, debate and ultimately, resolution.  We believe there is no “right” or “wrong” anwer and, in fact, believe ther are many ways to approach these pickles/dilemmas. Please feel free to keep anonymity. If you are presenting a pickle for discussion, please leave out all identifying information if it is a fact-based pickle.

Here is the first hypothetical pickle up for discussion:

1. Protecting Territories:

A vendor’s policy on “protecting territories” is they do not accept orders from companies within 30-45 miles of their distributors.  This particular vendor was approached by his/her retailer (customer of this vendor’s for about one year) because the shop owner was concerned about a vendor selling to a shop 55 miles away from him/her and requested action be taken.  The vendor participates in wholesale trade shows (Cash/Carry shows) as well as order writing shows.  The shop owner (who is upset) made purchases that comprised of a hefty 15-20% of the vendor’s sales for that year.  The shop who is in question (the one 55 miles away) has been purchasing from the vendor for three years. 

What other information would you need to make a decision?  What are the issues at play here?  What do you do (as a vendor)? What would you expect as a retailer?  What are the risks?

If you would like to reach Beth Merryfield or Stephanie Monahan by email, please write to us at:
thequillandwell@comcast.net

If you would like to telephone Beth, please call her at the mill of Primitiques anytime at 610.459.1776.

If you would like to reach Stephanie by telephone, please call her at her studio at 636.528.2767.

Thank you and we hope you enjoy reading our newsletter.

If you have any retailer and artisan profile suggestions, as well as any editorial suggestions, please feel free to contact us.