I live in a town where there isn’t a Starbucks. Really. Not one. But that’s okay. I get my latte fix at our local coffee shop, The Daily Grind. Not only do they have amazing coffee drinks, but they serve freshly-prepared meals, like salads and wraps, offer delicious bakery items, have plenty of space to sit and relax (even couches) and, yes, free Wi-Fi. All without the red cup-drama … but I digress … and I’m not here to talk about coffee.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Starbucks as much as anyone else, and when I’m in a town or city where there’s one (or two or eight), I’m there with everyone else. However, I also like buying local and supporting my community.

Small business Saturday is November 28. This is a day you’re encouraged to get out there in the midst of the holiday shopping hustle and bustle and do something good for your community by supporting local businesses. You probably even know a few people who own local businesses—and they love seeing you there. But there are a lot more businesses than just the local shops that would like your support.

It’s nothing new to point out that much of what was once produced and manufactured in the U.S. has moved offshore, namely to China. It’s made it difficult for many businesses in North America to compete—including those in the glazing industry.

Are you supporting local manufacturers, fabricators and suppliers? Everything bought here supports our economy. And that’s good for all of us.

“Made in North America” is a subject we’re going to be delving into in an upcoming issue of USGlass—and I want to hear from you. Are you manufacturing and sourcing your materials domestically? Tell me about it. Do you have a story to share about your experiences when it comes to buying/producing domestically vs. importing? Tell me about it.

Your feedback will help us spread the word about the importance of supporting the North American economy. Feel free to email me at erogers@glass.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Oh, and if you do get out there on November 28 and find an amazing small-business deal, I’d love to hear about that, too.