Not So Cheap After All

Listening to The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC last week, I caught the tail-end of a fascinating interview with author Ellen Ruppel Shell, who wrote the book, Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture.

Shell investigates how our demand for cheap goods has propelled the forces of globalization and its subsequent fall-out, including outsourcing and planned obsolescence, undermining the stability of our economy.

I can't wait to tackle, but if you've already read, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Your other source for all things made in NYC

If you're not already familiar with one of our favorite non-profits, the New York Industrial Retention Network (NYIRN), then let us introduce you!

NYIRN provides business services for manufacturers, conducts research on the industrial sector, and organizes advocacy for NYC manufacturers.

Like NYIRN, we think manufacturing is important to New York City. Manufacturing plays a critical role for the City's diverse job force. On average, blue collar jobs pay more than a retail or restaurant job and is more likely to be unionized and provide benefits.

One of NYIRN's services is Made in NYC, a free online business-to-business directory of products made in New York. Manufacturers can register their companies and buyers can search for locally-made products, including green products. Made in NYC also provides product sourcing assistance.

Local Labels frequently uses their online service in findingly locally made products to feature on our website and sourcing jobs locally such as printing and packaging services.

Give us your tired, your used. Your worn and broken umbrellas.

Yearning to be recycled. The especially rainy beginning to this summer got us thinking about umbrellas - and how there's so many of them that wind up in the city's streets and trash cans after a gusty rainstorm. So we were thrilled to team up with Himane, a fashion and design company founded by Haiti native Catherine Edouard-Charlot to collect broken umbrellas from water-logged commuters at our Grand Central kiosk.

Catherine refashions the umbrellas into creatively designed and waterproof bags and totes which we then sell at $15 for a tote, which when folded resembles an umbrella and $45 for a multipurpose and portable folding bag. We also offer custom bags from the Himane collection. So let it rain!

Grand Central Flyer

Any purchase of $150 and you get a free gift!
Come visit us!

Local Labels Goes Live in Grand Central

We are moved in!!

Jean, Jacob and I unpacked and set up the booth this morning in time for the afternoon rush. The products look great together and automatically attracted new customers. Our first sale of the day was a Queens Maptote followed by Jenulence Rose Petal Bath Salts and a Campbell Raw Press journal.

We will be featuring a new product of the week on the blog- so stayed tuned for new made in NYC gift profiles.

Thanks to those who have given us support along the way. Your encouragement has been so appreciated.

Come visit us!

p.s. there's great coffee across from us