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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 Marble King Marble King, The American Dream The Empire... Did you know that over one million marbles a day are produced by a West Virginia company? Well, they are. Marble King, Incorporated, located in Paden City, West Virginia, currently manufacturers over a million marbles each day. They operate seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year. The King is Crowned... Berry Pink and Sellers Peltier founded Marble King in 1949. Pink was a successful businessman and loved to interact with children. The marbles sold under the Marble King header in the 30's and early 40's were actually manufactured by Peltier Glass. By the late 1940's, Pink was selling more marbles than Peltier could produce. They joined forces and formed another manufacturing facility in which Pink held the majority of shares. Berry Pink traveled throughout the country hosting marble tournaments and giving away several marbles at each stop. He became known as The Marble King. That's how the company got its name when it was founded in December 1949. The New Kingdom... Marble King was originally located in St. Marys, West Virginia. In January of 1958 a fire destroyed the factory. Roger Howdyshell, who managed the Marble King facility, moved the company to Paden City where it still remains today. Howdyshell was a very innovative man who left his mark on the marble industry in many ways. He led Marble King to the forefront when he manufactured the first American made Cat's Eye marbles. He also developed a process called veneering marbles. In this process, you could use less expensive glass as base glass and put a thin coating on the exterior surface to give the marble color. An American Legacy... In 1983, Roger Howdyshell bought Marble King. He had dedicated his life to the industry and truly loved it. He continued to operate the facility until his death in 1991. Today, Marble King continues to be owned and operated by the Howdyshell family. Marble King marbles are used in marble games, board games, decorative vases, spray paint cans and other industrial applications. Our marbles have been featured in movies like Goonies, Hook and Home Alone. Marble King continues to be the leader in marble production shipping its marbles worldwide. In 2000, Marble King received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting. Marble King has been a contributing sponsor and supporter of The National Marble Tournament since 1968. A college scholarship is awarded each year at the tournament, compliments of Marble King. |
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