TAP Certified Merchant Program

TAP America believes in supporting our small business owners and educating consumers. We launched the TAP Certified Merchant Program to promote the value of buying American by encouraging local businesses to stock and sell products made in America. Download our program information brochure here.

 

Program Benefits & Highlights:

• Attract new customers and demonstrate pride in your country by stocking at least 20% of American-Made products in your store.
• Establish long-terms goals to increase stores’ inventory of American-Made goods by only 1% a month
• Receive special decals that can be displayed in your store window to inform your customers that you carry products Made in the U.S.A.
• Educate consumers that spending just one extra dollar a day on American-Made goods will create over 1 Million new jobs in the U.S.A. – “A Extra Dollar A Day Saves the U.S.A.”
• TAP Certified businesses have been approved by TAP America (www.tapamerica.org) as being committed to keeping jobs in America

Program Background

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms and employ just over half of all private sector employees. Small business have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the last 15 years and pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll. As a nation, we must support this.

Recent reports indicate that if each American spent an extra $1 on U.S. made goods each day, that this alone would create 1 Million new jobs.  When you go shopping for your daily groceries, clothing or home improvement tools, start locally, buy American and keep our jobs here. Only American consumers spending an additional dollar a day towards American-Made products and American small businesses that make an effort to stock and sell these goods get our nation up and running again.

Supporting Local Small Businesses

TAP America created the Certified Merchant Program in order to support small businesses and educate consumers about the value of purchasing products Made in America. By working with small and locally owned businesses, our goal is to increase the number of stores that carry U.S.A. made products to meet the demand of consumers who want to shop locally and support our national economy.

Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of America and it is important that people recognize just what it means to own and operate a small business. Small businesses not only fuel our local economies, but they also give consumers a choice over where their money goes.

At this time, it can be difficult to find local and American-made products and this is why TAP America created the TAP Merchant Program. Shop local businesses and farmer’s markets first.  If we all just pay a little more attention, it will make a very big difference.  Each dollar going back into our economy sends a message that we are taking individual responsibility to keep our local communities and our nation strong.

Safety Concerns About Products Made Overseas

Overseas regulations on manufacturing and quality control are less stringent and this may contribute to the creation of inferior and potentially dangerous products. In recent years, several goods manufactured overseas have been determined unsafe for human and animal consumption, causing sickness and in some cases, even death.  Pet food contamination caused by melamine, toothpaste containing the dangerous chemical diethylene glycol, lead paint in Thomas the Train children’s toys, drywall that gives off poisonous fumes, and unsafe tires made in China are all examples of recent safety violations from products manufactured overseas.

Of course, not everything made abroad is dangerous. TAP America believes that the first step is educating consumers about the value and safety of American-Made products and providing a choice about where the products they buy are made. This will send a message that Americans value quality and safety over cheap, unregulated and potentially hazardous goods.

When we buy products from countries overseas, our money is potentially used to fund their military expansion and the development of advanced weapons that may be used against the U.S. at a later date. This can be seen through recent developments in North Korea and China, where both nations are beginning to flex their military strength.

Q&A:

How can my business really make a difference?

By becoming a TAP Certified Merchant, you are showing your customers that you care about our country and our community and that you want to keep jobs and money in your local community. By carrying American-Made goods, you will provide your customers with high-quality products that will thereby increase future demand for these goods.

How do I become a TAP Certified Merchant?

Merchants who demonstrate their commitment to having at least 20% of their inventory made in the U.S.A. are automatically qualified to become a TAP Certified Merchant. Just contact TAP America and let us know that you qualify and we will add you to our national store directory and send you our store window decal and information about the program.

As a consumer, why do I want to buy American?

If we purchase American-Made, locally grown products, we support the true American spirit of opportunity for people. Buying American provides more jobs for our citizens and profits for our businesses. That in turn, means more tax dollars for our schools, roads, parks and vital services like police, fire departments, military and public health programs.

What are the steps to making informed purchasing decisions when you are buying for your business?

Take just a moment in your busy day to pay attention to the real choices you have.  When you go to “vote with your dollar”, what are you supporting?  Are you looking at the labels to see where products are made?

Make it a habit to ask the following questions:

1) Can you buy that product, service or food item locally-grown or made? Remember, this supports both your local and national economy and the environment by reducing shipping distance.

2) If not, can you buy that product or food item from a locally owned or American business? This would support your local merchants and your communities.

Facts & Stats:

• Made in America goods and consumption have been on decline since 1979. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $46.4  Billion in January 2011 as imports increased more than exports.
• Only 50% of U.S. Flags are made in America
  http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2011/apr/4/lawmaker-wants-made-america-us-flags/
• In a recent special on ABC, Diane Sawyer reported if each American did just 1 percent of their shopping (that’s 18 cents a day or $65 a year) on American-made products, it would put 200,000 people to work. http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_83392318-5cdd-11e0-a464-001cc4c002e0.html
• If every American spent an extra $3.33 on U.S. made goods each year, that would create almost 10,000 jobs. Following this equation, it each citizen spent just $1/day extra on American-made goods, this would create 1 Million additional jobs.
  http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/call-buy-goods-made-america-us-manufacturing-labor-goods-economy-business-12945048
• According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms and employ just over half of all private sector employees.
• Small business have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the last 15 years and pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll.