One Small Business Stands for America

There has been much talk on the campaign trail about China and its unfair trade advantage. And in the real world, some people are taking action.

Sifted USA of Greenville, South Carolina, is doing something about the influx of job-taking, low-wage produced junk from China by offering customers a curated selection of high-quality, giftable items made exclusively in the United States.

Overseas imports have been costing Americans jobs here at home — especially when it comes to Chinese imports. China is known for low-cost manufacturing, and research shows there has been a decline in manufacturing jobs in the United States since trade with China increased. Manufacturing jobs help to create a strong middle class, and our heavy reliance on Chinese imported goods rather than American-made products is hurting working Americans. China has now become the third-largest exporter to America.

[lz_bulleted_list title=”Loss of American Jobs to China” source=”http://www.cnbc.com”]There has been a decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs since China joined the WTO in 2001.|Currently, the trade relationship produces jobs for Chinese workers but costs jobs for blue-collar Americans.[/lz_bulleted_list]

Companies prefer the cheaper Chinese-made goods and argue they cannot afford to buy goods made here in the United States when they are made so much more cost-effectively abroad. Simply put, China is using unfair trade practices — as well as manipulating its currency — to make its goods cheaper, with disastrous effects on our economy here at home.

Beth McPhee, president and founder of Sifted USA, which launched in September 2015, has had enough. Through the launch of her online retail site, she is trying to provide a one-stop shop to customers who want to buy local.

Buying local creates more wealth and jobs in communities and has a direct impact on the local economy. Studies from the Civic Economics research group and the American Independent Business Alliance shows that the math for buying local is hard to refute. Estimates show that for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $73 goes back into the local economy.

[lz_bulleted_list title=”Effects of Shopping Locally” source=”MetroFamily Magazine”]For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $73 goes back into the local economy.|For every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business, $43 remains in the local economy.[/lz_bulleted_list]

Since the company launched, some 80 percent of Sifted USA’s shoppers have been repeat purchasers who are buying a variety of items.

“The response to only selling American-made products has been fantastic,” said McPhee. “So many people are joining the maker movement and want to support their local artists and local community, so they are really excited about having a new shopping outlet that brings the ‘shop local’ mentality to them anywhere in the country.”

The idea for Sifted USA stemmed from a conversation McPhee had with one of her board members from another company she owns. During the conversation, McPhee realized there were so many makers and brands, she just wanted to “sift” through them all and offer the best to shoppers. Then something clicked, and both realized Sifted was a great company name. USA was added to make clear everything on the site is made in the United States.

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. They provide American job opportunities and growth. And this one provides American jobs for its downstream suppliers, too.