Serving the Country
Manufacturers champion the importance of American-made products
and explain why giving back is important.
S
HU
TT
ERSTO
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TROPICLEAN
PET PRODUCTS
BY KEITH LORIA
For many pet owners, purchasing made in the USA products is driven by a demand for quality. However, customers are also increasingly interested in supporting domestically produced
brands they can relate to or those that share similar beliefs, according to industry participants.
Wentzville, Mo.-based TropiClean Pet Products strives to provide quality products that help improve the lifestyles of both pets
and their people, said James Brandly, public relations manager. The
company is also proud to create made in the USA products that
help strengthen the local communities it works in as well as the U.S.
economy, he added.
For TropiClean, a “Made in the USA” sticker not only showcases
where its products are produced, but also that its products are held
to the industry’s highest standards, according to Brandly.
“The U.S. holds manufacturers like ours to strict manufacturing
practices and regulations,” he said. “Our products and ingredients
have to exceed the industry standards, and our facilities have to
surpass strict manufacturing guidelines.”
Julie Creed, vice president of sales and marketing for Ardsley,
N.Y.-based Pura Naturals Pet, which offers a full range of organic
pet wellness products for dogs and cats, all made with U.S.-sourced
ingredients, manufacturing and packaging, said today’s customers
have many options, but they increasingly value companies that
manufacture and source domestically and keep jobs close by.
“USA-made is not only associated with keeping jobs local, but
also stricter guidelines and controls,” she said. “Our American fac-
tories engage in environmentally friendly practices and comply with
product quality standards and strict guidelines. The majority of our
products are USDA certified organic.”
Some pet specialty retailers report that customers have more faith
in made in the USA products because they believe products made
elsewhere lack quality control and safe ingredients or manufactur-
ing processes.
“One thing I always remind my customers about is that it can’t
just be ‘made’ in the USA, products must be sourced in the USA as
well,” said Denise Strong, co-owner of Pawz On Main in Cotton-
wood, Ariz. “We are living in a time where people are more sophisti-
cated buyers who are willing to educate themselves about what they
are giving to their pets. Therefore, it’s not surprising that people are
choosing these products.”
As more consumers demand made in the USA products, many
retailers are devoting more space to the items.
“We are pleased that more retailers are carving out made in the
USA sections in their stores in response to increased customer demand,” Creed said.
Diane Lundeen, owner of Petcetera NOLA in New Orleans,
said products that are made in the U.S. are very important to her
customers.
“The serious issues with foreign-sourced toxic substances in
dog food several years ago made people much more aware of the
importance of what’s in their pet’s food, treats, toys and accessories,”
she said. “Many Americans simply tend to trust American-made
products more. Customers perceive American manufacturers to be
held to strong regulations to keep their pets safe and healthy.”
