The purpose of the NMOA "Made In America" contest is twofold. First, it is meant to help small to midsize manufacturers and inventors in the USA get exposure for their products with the hope of getting those products sold through a variety of mail order type marketers, for example, general mail order operators, catalogers, Web merchants, infomercial and home shopping producers, and direct mailers.

Second, the search also helps merchandise buyers from these mail order marketers find new and interesting products for their company to sell. New products are the lifeblood of the mail order industry. There is always a need for good new products, and buyers are constantly on the lookout for them. You just never know where that next Hot Product will come from.

In other words, the contest offers a needed method of helping American product manufacturers connect with mail order marketing type companies. A connection that otherwise may not be made, helping the American manufacturer, the American manufacturing workforce, and the American economy.

If we expand our explanation a bit, you begin to understand our reasoning behind the contest.

Some of the most interesting products come from smaller manufacturers around the USA. But many times the smaller manufacturers, craftsmen, or artisans have a hard time getting their products in front of buyers at a reasonable cost. Even if they have the marketing expertise and the connections, it is very time consuming and expensive for them to get exposure without help.

Just the expense to travel and display at a product trade show is an enormous investment in time, money, and manpower. It's just too much for many smaller companies. So what happens—they don't go. They miss their chance to get in front of buyers.

Yet, at the same time, merchandise buyers from all over the world are always under pressure to find new and interesting products for their companies to sell, and are always on the lookout for the next potential hot seller for their market niches. And, now more than ever, sourcing more American made products is important. But it's impossible for buyers to go from town to town all over America looking for them.

This contest is our way of helping both. While having some fun doing it.

For answers to additional questions, contact John Schulte at 612-788-1673.

Attention Business Editors and Writers!

If you ever need how-to information or success stories for articles in the areas of: mail order, catalog marketing, or direct mail marketing, you are welcome to call us. We will be delighted to help.

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