Market Square Shows- a note from Kathy Goodrich

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