Why American Made Show?

People have asked me, "Why the new name for the Buyers Market of American Craft?" Here are my feelings about the change.

For 33 years we've marketed the Buyers Market of American Craft. Yet for all those years (and millions in promotional dollars), we have not received the press attention that YOU deserve.

We understand that the term "craft" in our tribe doesn't define us as "hobbyists," but that's not what the rest of the world outside of art schools and guilds thinks. We can all just keep arguing about abandoning or embracing the term, but the truth is that craft has grown so big we've become split into many groups-Hobby, Professional, Therapy-and we all know that the Hobby sector is by far the biggest.

Last year, I realized that Google searches for the term "Made in America" had multiplied 400% in just the last four years, and we've all experienced the fact that consumers now understand the solution to our economic crisis lies in supporting our own economy, with our dollars. Retailers supporting the "shop local movement" and Small Business Saturday understand that as well.

While craft galleries had once been the biggest category of buyers at the Buyers Market of American Craft, catalog buyers, museum shops, e-retailers, and other specialty retailers are growing in attendance. At the same time, many of the art gallery buyers that once purchased "Net 30" have moved further into local consignment.

So do we cling to a term that confuses the very businesses we want to reach? Or do we communicate clearly in the language retailers and consumers understand? Our show is not just craft. It's just as much about art and cutting-edge design, and it's about how we define handmade in the 21st century. Retailers in our community rely on artists who use all kinds of equipment that just a decade ago wouldn't have been an option.

My belief is that manufacturing in the 20th century took place in all those big buildings that now stand empty. But manufacturing is still happening (and always has) on kitchen tables, in garages and in studios. The difference is that these "Next Gen Makers" are, for the first time in a century, in complete control of their destiny and not working for "the man."

For our show, nothing has changed. It's the world around us that's changing, and changing fast. It's hard to believe that we are the ONLY industrialized country without a manufacturing plan, "access to market" support for our best young designers. Why? As a community, we've been invisible for too long. I'm asking all of you to join with us as the new face of "American Made," a business community filled with hardworking top designer/makers who are stepping forward to reclaim our place as the best in American Made.