Buy American Weekly Spotlight

Feb. 13: Bills Khakis

Back in the mid-80s, Bill Thomas stumbled across a pair of WWII original army khakis in a surplus store. After wearing them out, the college student returned for another pair, only to learn they had run through their supply. After searching high and low for a new pair that matched the quality of the first, he gave up and made his own.

He made 250 pair, in fact. As he sold them he realized he'd found a market worth tapping. Bill moved back to Pennsylvania and poured all of his efforts into getting his new venture off the ground. The result was Bills Khakis, and the fledgling company was melded in Bill's vision as a brand that captured the American ideal.

Two decades later, Bills Khakis enjoys a reputation for quality and comfort. They may cost more than the average khakis down at the mall, but it won't take long for you to recognize why.

Bills Khakis are made in Reading, Pennsylvania. In addition to khaki pants they offer a line of shorts, jeans, shirts and jackets. To learn more about the company or place an order, visit www.billskhakis.com.

Feb. 4: J.W. Hulme Company

From canvas tent making during World War II to their present day high end luggage and sporting accessories manufacturing, J.W. Hulme Company's specialized craftspeople have been making distinctive luxury leather and canvas bags since 1905. Their skill, commitment to time-honored techniques, and absolute dedication to quality have made the J.W. Hulme Co. name synonymous with fine quality.

For J.W. Hulme Co., which has never considered going off-shore with its production, Made in the USA is a true reflection of its philosophy. Their unique, handmade bags speak to a time when rugged American individualism was valued and people personally knew of someone who was a true artisan. From the materials they choose to the elegant hardware they use, the J.W. Hulme Co. pledge is to produce exceptional, unique and valued bags and accessories for discerning customers. The proof is in the look and feel of their bags, which come with a lifetime guarantee.

The J.W. Hulme collection ranges from duffel bags to brief cases to hunting and fishing gear. Check out the Frederic Remington collection for a unique line of authentic bison leather cases. J.W. Hulme Co. has collaborated with the Frederic Remington Art Museum to produce these as well as sets of bronze sculptures and framed artwork from the famed artist of the Wild West.

J.W. Hulme Company, which has been in business on the shores of the Mississippi River in St Paul, Minnesota, for over 100 years, has 25 employees. To learn more about the company or place an order, visit www.jwhulmeco.com.

Jan. 24: Crane Creek Gardens

When Kari Warberg had a mouse problem on her rural North Dakota farm, she took a creative approach to solving the problem. Experienced with growing and drying flowers, she whipped up a natural blend of corn cob chips and plant and herbal extracts. The result was a botanical rodent repellent called Fresh Cab, which does more than keep the mice away. Fresh Cab also freshens and protects storage areas, without the odor of mothballs.

Fresh Cab is the best-selling product from Crane Creek Gardens, which was founded by Ms. Warberg in 1995. The company, which sources all of its ingredients from US farms, has a second product called Prairie Aire air-fresheners. These too are all natural, and they work by literally absorbing odors while simultaneously outputting pleasant scents.

Crane Creek Gardens, which was incorporated as Earth-Kind, Inc., in 2002, is based in Stanley, North Dakota, and has four employees. Their mission is to create natural, safe and effective products that benefit rural areas, the environment and society. To learn more about the company or to place an order, visit their web site at www.cranecreekgardens.com.

Jan. 17: D'Accord, Inc.

There's something casual about the look of a D'Accord shirt that says Miami, which is fitting, because that's where they're made. But the history of the company is one that took a long road to reach South Florida.

Rafael Contreras Soldevilla, the founder of D'Accord, migrated with his family from Spain to Cuba in the early '20s. He learned the retail clothing business and built up a successful men's wear store before Castro's rise brought Communism to the island. Fleeing with his family to Florida in 1960, he started over, this time on the manufacturing side. Two decades later, he and his son, Rafael Contreras Jr., launched D'Accord, providing quality casual wear.

D'Accord is now in its third decade of selling camp shirts, banded bottom shirts and safari sets. All but one line are manufactured in the USA. A workforce of 30 produces the casual shirts in styles for women and children as well as men. The men's line, however, is the family-run company's calling card. Shirts are available in luxurious linen, pima cotton or a blend of other fabrics.

To learn more about D'Accord, or to place an order, visit their web site at www.daccordinc.com.

Jan. 10: Silver Bear Manufacturing

When it comes to snow removal, who better to trust than a company whose employees deal with an average of 200 inches of the white stuff every winter? Silver Bear Manufacturing, located on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, has been helping folks clear snow away since 1970.

Silver Bear's snow scoop harks back to Michigan's copper mines in the 1920s. With some winters seeing as much as 300 inches of snow, the men decided there had to be a better way to clear it than with a standard snow shovel. A wooden scoop to push the snow without lifting it was constructed and the idea caught on. Decades later, a metal worker improved upon the concept and the modern scoop was born. No more back-breaking lifting of heavy snow. The snow scoop allows the user to simply push the snow across the driveway.

Silver Bear, now under the stewardship of its third owner, Ben Halonen, equips its snow scoop with optional wheels, to make pushing a breeze when the snow is cleared down to the bare driveway. Of course, on the Upper Peninsula they're rarely needed once the snow base is packed down for the winter.

As anyone who lives in snow country knows, heavy snow and ice are a potential hazard when piling up on your roof. Silver Bear's other top seller is a roof rake, constructed of sturdy galvanized steel. With a 15-foot handle, you'll be able to reach up and clean your roof with your feet safely on the ground where they belong.

Silver Bear, which sells its snow removal products all over the USA, has five employees and is headquartered in Laurium, Michigan. To learn more about the company or place an order, visit their web site at www.silverbear.biz.

Jan. 3: W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Co.

Hand-crafted Case knives have been an American tradition for generations, often passed down from fathers to sons. Case has been making pocket knives for more than 100 years. The Case brothers began by hawking knives from a wagon back in 1889. Their business grew into what is now known as W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., located in Bradford, Pa., just south of the New York border.

The company creates more than 140 different patterns of pocket knives, noted for their high quality steel blades and natural handle materials, such as cattle bone, buffalo horn, rosewood, and mother-of-pearl. Each Case knife is handled by more than 125 employees before leaving the factory. There are no corners cut, which is why Case has built such a devoted group of followers.

Case's nearly 18,000 collectors gives it the largest knife collectors club in the world. Many of them will descend upon Bradford this July for the inaugural Case Collector Appreciation Weekend (July 18 and 19, 2008, book your hotel room now).

While in Bradford, you can visit the Zippo/Case Visitors Center and tour the museum of Zippo lighters and Case knives. (Case Cutlery is owned by Zippo.) For more information on the visitors center or W.R. Case, visit their web site (www.wrcase.com). If you'd like to start your own collection, check their site's Dealer Locator to find a retailer near you. Or make your plans to visit Bradford.

Dec. 27: Texas Jeans

The USA was the birthplace of blue jeans, and while many visualize Levi's as a quintessential American pant, none of their jeans are made here any more. If you want a real American jean, you still have some options. One company that has been manufacturing jeans in the USA for decades is Texas Jeans (www.texasjeans.com).

Texas Jeans are actually made in Asheboro, N.C., but there is a historic Texas connection. The Clinard family moved from North Carolina to Texas in the early 1900s to grow cotton and raise cattle. In the 1970s, Joe Clinard, who had years of experience selling major brand name blue jeans, decided to start his own line. Texas Jeans was born.

These days the jeans are made by more than 200 employees in a 150,000 square-foot facility in Asheboro, hundreds of miles from Texas, but right there in spirit. They've got several rugged styles for men, including a comfort-fit line. They also produce lines for women and kids. And if you think Made in USA is supposed to cost more, think again. Right now they're offering great pricing on all their jeans through their online store. You'll find prices that are less than you'd expect to pay for a pair of Levi's or Wranglers.

Dec. 20: Buffalo Games

Life isn't all fun and games, unless you work at Buffalo Games, where fun and games is their mission. Since their origin back in 1986, their goal has been to create products that bring people together. Their first smash hit was the World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle, a double-sided monster that carved them out a niche in the toy business.

Fast forward to 1998, when Buffalo Games released iMAgiNiff, their signature board game that has sold more than a million copies over the last 10 years. This fun party game challenges players to imagine what their opponents think. "Imagine if Fred accidentally backed over the neighbor's cat in the driveway. What would he do?" Then vote on the answers and see if Fred admits you're right. You'll laugh a lot and learn a little something as well.

Other party games include Last Word, Visual Eyes, Faces, and The T-Shirt Game. Buffalo Games also offers an extensive line of puzzles, featuring images from Disney, Norman Rockwell, The Simpsons, Peanuts, and more. And if flat puzzles are too easy for you, try one of their 3D challengers.

All of their products are manufactured in their 87,000 foot facility in Buffalo, N.Y., by their staff of 81 employees. You can order all Buffalo Games products on their web site (www.buffalogames.com), or check your local mall. Many national retailers carry their products (see their site for a dealer near you). So you're in luck if you need a last-minute Christmas gift.

Dec. 13: Vermont Originals

It's been 36 years since a Cornell student began selling ski hats out of his trunk as part of a business school project. Bruce Krysiak's experiment blossomed into Vermont Originals, and thanks to the internet and improved distribution channels, these caps have long since gone nationwide.

Every Vermont Original is just that. One of a kind. Each wool hat is hand made by their network of home knitters, who crank out anywhere from 75 to 100 hats per week. They craft fashionable patterns that are then sewn together and lined with fleece for added warmth and comfort.

In addition to a wide array of designs, Vermont Originals offers college hats with your favorite school's colors. They even do custom orders with your initials or company logo knit right in. And if you need something to hang out for Santa, check out their selection of knit stockings.

You can order right from www.vermontoriginals.com, or use their Store Finder to locate a retailer near you.

Dec. 6: Beanpod Candles

At Soy Basics in New Hampton, Iowa, they start with soybeans and wind up with beautiful, great smelling candles. Their Beanpod Candles come in dozens of colors and fragrances, and the 100% stabilized soy wax burns clean and even, so you don't wind up with a tiny wick at the bottom of a hollowed out candle.

Candles make a terrific gift. They warm and liven a room with tasteful scents that can even be matched to the occasion. Beanpod allows you even more creativity, by letting you mix and match your own fragrances with their Soy Beads. What are Soy Beads? They're tiny beads of soy wax that can be melted over a tealight candle. Choose a single fragrance or mix several together to concoct a unique flavor. Beanpod offers a recipe list of some of their favorites, but you can get as creative as you dare.

A simple jar candle is always a hit as well. Need a stocking stuffer? A 4.5-ounce Beanpod Candle will fit snugly in the toe of your loved one's stocking. Or go with a 25-ounce candle for a much longer burning experience. There are over 60 fragrances to choose from.

Soy Basics has been making Beanpod Candles since 2000. In their short history as the nation's only manufacturer of 100% stabilized soy wax candles, they have grown into one of the largest candle companies in the U.S. Beanpod's products support America's soy farmers and are environmentally friendly to boot. Visit the Beanpod Candles web site to find a retailer near you and check out their Fragrance of the Month.

Nov. 29: Wheel House Designs

One person, one idea over 19 years ago was just the beginning for Wheel House Designs, a major sock designing company that now sells over 400 designs of high quality, Made in the USA, novelty socks. They are not just socks. They are a gift, a fashion accessory, and certainly a conversation piece.

Wheel House designs original patterns on socks in Hyde Park, Vermont (formerly Stowe). After they create their unique designs, they have them knit in the USA. The socks are then sent back to their Vermont warehouse and distributed all over the USA, Canada and even overseas.

The "sock season," as they call it, picks up in September and is fast and furious for the Christmas holidays because their designs are known to be thoughtful gifts. Know anyone with a dog? They probably have the breed in stock, ready to ship. (Note: These socks are for people, not for the dogs!) It's a perfect under $10 gift.

Their selections range from over 80 dog breeds to cats, flowers, birds, wildlife, country, horses, sports anklets, and a novelty section with a wide varity of designs (Guitar, Jazz, all the way to tractors.) They make a great gift all year round if you need a rose design for Valentines day! The list just goes on and on. Check out www.wheelhousedesigns.com to see all of their great sock designs and place an order on line.

Nov. 22: Peterboro Basket Company

For 153 years, the Peterboro Basket Company has been crafting beautiful handmade baskets in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Picnic baskets, wine baskets, baskets to hold wood by the fireplace or knickknacks in the kitchen. They've got it all.

And if you're looking for a basket for the holidays, you need to get to www.peterborobasket.com and check out their Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas. Peterboro's Thanksgiving nutcracker basket doubles as a centerpiece, and if you've got a pie to cart over to Grandma's, they've got just the basket to protect it. For Christmas they've got baskets to store cards and serve food. Or how about a sleigh-shaped basket to hold candy?

The basket-making tradition dates back to the 1850s, when Amzi Childs, the founder of what would evolve into the current company, began weaving baskets in Peterborough. Using Appalachian White Ash harvested in New England, Peterboro crafts strong, sturdy products backed by a limited lifetime warranty. You may have seen them on the QVC network, where they run shows several times each year. If you miss them on QVC, visit their web site to place an order. Baskets make a great gift.

Nov. 15: Whittle Toy Company

The China toy recalls have not been bad news for everybody. The Whittle Toy Company, based in Louisiana, Missouri, has enjoyed a record year. When more than a million Thomas the Tank Engine toys were recalled this spring due to lead paint problems, many customers found Whittle, maker of great wooden trains that fit on Brio and Thomas tracks. We know people are looking for more information on this fast-growing company, because our web stats show "Whittle" is the most popular Google search to land visitors on our site.

While the majority of Whittle Shortline Railroad trains are modeled after real rail cars and engines, they do offer the Little Engine That Could for young engineers. This familiar storybook hero has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to several Thomas recalls. Whittle offers a popular package of the Little Engine That Could with four cars, an oval track, and the book that started it all.

Of course, Whittle's bread and butter are their realistic looking diesels, steam engines, boxcars, hoppers, and cabooses. And then there are the Amtrak cars, the company's best seller. Whittle does more than trains. They also make school buses, semi-trucks and U.S. Postal Service mail trucks. They've got great ideas for any girl or boy on your shopping list this Christmas.

To learn more, or place an order, check out the Whittle Toy Company's web site at www.woodentrain.com.

Nov. 8: All American Clothing Co.

Our first American Company of the Week fell into our lap. Well, our e-mail box, anyway. The All American Clothing Company, of Arcanum, Ohio, is running a promotion this month. Three dollars off any pair of jeans, and they donate $1 to Operation Gratitude for every pair sold. Operation Gratitude is a group that sends care packages to U.S. troops stationed all over the world. It's definitely a good cause, and no surprise that All American Clothing Co. would be involved with them.

All American Clothing Co. has been around since 2003, though until earlier this year they were known as the Union Jean Co. They offer a full line of men's jeans, khakis, shirts and jackets, all made in the United States. They are organized under UFCW local 1099, and most of their garments are union made.

Get a jump on your shopping this Christmas by buying some great-looking, American-made clothes from All American Clothing Co., and support a great cause at the same time.