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The Tip is 'Ask Before You Buy' I went to a department store for a pair of dress shoes recently. The clerk helped me with three different pairs that I tried on. 'The Big Secret' was on the forefront of my mind so I asked, "Are these shoes imports?" The salesman responded that they were in fact imported. "Do you have any Made In America shoes like these?" I asked. To my surprise he said, "We have a whole line of Made In USA shoes." I was able to purchase the same color and style with the Made In USA label. These Made in America shoes were less expensive, came with a better warranty and were more comfortable. It's amazing how often this simple Made in US question yields unexpected and often times pleasant results. I now ask this question regularly, whereas before I would not have thought to ask for a Made in America alternative. More often than not, I can find a Made in America product of higher quality and at the same, or slightly higher price. Asking the question is so simple and can make a positive impact, in both the short and long term. Try it sometime. If you are like me, you may be surprised with how many Made in US products are out there. You will love it when you realize you are making a difference that benefits many. With your help America will be ours again and that is a good thing. Buying Tip Continued - Read more on Made in America Products by Natalie Frigo Natalie Frigo's passion is creating unique, handcrafted jewelry that treasures the extraordinary beauty in every client. Sculpting all of the designs by hand in her lower Manhattan studio, Natalie personally attends to each detail using the ancient practices of metalsmithing and 'cire perdue' (also known as lost-wax casting). The organic forms are then cast and finished in New York City, marrying recycled metals with personally selected, ethically sourced gemstones. Natalie's inspiration ranges from early metallurgy and textile design to recent architectural developments, culminating in a collection that is contemporary, but by referencing venerable artifacts, also feels timeless. Ethical Jewelry Conflict-free stones ensure that no person was forced to mine a stone in unsafe or illegal working conditions. All of our diamonds, for example, are individually tracked through their full chain of custody to ensure that ethical practices are used in mining, cutting and polishing. Ethically sourced goes beyond conflict-free - these gemstones are delivered from mines that provide a living wage, ensure safe working conditions and protect the environment by limiting dangerous chemicals and developing plans for restoring the land after mining is complete. Natalie chooses ethically sourced when available and is always seeking out new sources for these stones. Recycled and reclaimed metals eliminate a tremendous amount of new pollution and contaminated water. An average, newly mined 18-karat gold ring (weighing less than an ounce) creates twenty tons (!) of waste, whereas a recycled ring creates almost none. Since recycled metal is as beautiful and timeless as newly mined and indistinguishable in its use as a raw material, the choice is a simple one. Also, timeless jewelry like Natalie's helps reduce waste by giving you pieces that will last generations. Buy a few great pieces of jewelry that you will love for a lifetime instead of acquiring a drawer full of things you rarely wear and then forget about after a season. |
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