Let’s face it.

Sometimes we’d like to buy something other than Chinese cr#p at a soul-less big box, but no one nearby stocks what we need. Like a canvas teepee or a denim tote bag.

Can we still buy local if the locale is, say Oregon or Tennessee and we’re in, oh maybe Podunk?

Sure. Through the magic of gently-used, recycled, eco-friendly electrons, we can visit Made, a web site featuring (and even telling you about) small American companies making stuff with Made-in-America materials. You have to sign up to see their “collections” of goods, but it’s worth it. It’s a flash site, so act quick… just like folks have to in our biz. 🙂

I like the discovery… of American companies. For example, who knew I could buy canary chukkas? Since Made is a “curator”, you can click around and see what else a company makes, in addition to whatever Made is showing.

Made has some very interesting marketing concepts, too. See their blog for lots and lots of branding ideas, right down to their “decorative” shipping boxes. Get two minutes into their site, and you’ll know that they must be in Boulder CO. What IS it with Boulder, anyway?