(Once) Made in America

Print is a manufacturing industry. It may not be as susceptible to offshoring as other industries, but it is being affected by products made overseas.

I read this on the Web a while back and it still sums the situation up:

Bob Smith’s alarm clock (Made in China) went off at 6am and soon his coffee maker (Made in Thailand) was perking, and his toaster (Made?in?Mexico) was toasting. He shaved with his electric razor (Made in Cambodia). He put on a dress shirt (Made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (Made in Singapore) and tennis shoes (Made in South Korea). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric hot plate (Made in India) he sat down with his calculator (Made In Thailand) to see how much he could spend for the day. After setting his watch (Made in Taiwan) to the radio (Made in India) he got in his car (Made in Germany) and continued his search for a job. At the end of a discouraging day, Bob decided to take it easy. He put on his slippers (Made in Brazil) poured himself a glass of wine (Made in France) and turned on his TV (Made in Japan), and then wondered why he could not find a good paying job in the United States.

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About Frank Romano

Frank Romano has spent over 60 years in the printing and publishing industries. Many know him best as the editor of the International Paper Pocket Pal or from the hundreds of articles he has written for publications from North America and Europe to the Middle East to Asia and Australia. Romano lectures extensively, having addressed virtually every club, association, group, and professional organization at one time or another. He is one of the industry's foremost keynote speakers. He continues to teach courses at RIT and other universities and works with students on unique research projects.