Dec 14, 2009

Byers’ Choice Ltd. Encourages Holiday Shoppers to Buy American

Bucks County, Pa. — With consumers keeping a closer eye on their wallets this holiday season, many will be especially choosy about the products on which to spend their hard-earned money. After a difficult 2009, Americans will be placing an emphasis on making Christmas extra special, but will shoppers choose deep discounts over handcrafted products made in the USA like those from Byers’ Choice Ltd.?

There’s a lot more than Santa’s sleigh riding on Christmas this year.

According to an October 2009 survey from the National Retail Federation, two-thirds of American families say the economy will impact their shopping habits this holiday season. While spending less is becoming more of a necessity, most American shoppers also know the importance of supporting the U.S. economy and buying American. However, a large amount of the products we purchase to decorate our homes for the holidays are made overseas, and in many cases, higher quality products are passed up for big bargains.

Research from The Checkout, a newsletter featuring monthly shopper behavior data, shows that although there has been a slight rise month-to-month in 2009 toward buying American, more than 70 percent of 1,200 Americans surveyed usually seek out the lowest possible price over a product that is made in the USA.

Christmas Made in America

Byers’ Choice, a company known for its beloved Caroler figures, is one of the largest producers of Christmas décor in the United States. Each Caroler is made by hand in the company’s Bucks County, Pa. workshop by a team of 100 artisans.

Byers’ Choice started in the 1960s at the dining room table of Joyce Byers, a mother of two with a design background. She would make Carolers as gifts for family and friends, and what started as a hobby grew into a small business. Eventually Byers’ Choice expanded into a company that today produces hundreds of thousands of Carolers annually.

“Keeping jobs here in America is important to us at Byers’ Choice,” said Joyce Byers, founder, designer and Mom of Byers’ Choice. “Although many of our competitors have sent manufacturing to other countries to cut costs, we feel that our company would not get the same quality of product by doing so.”

In addition to being an American-made product, Byers’ Choice items are sold in independent gift stores across the country. When a customer is buying a Caroler, they are also supporting community business owners and boosting their local economies.

Since each product is crafted by hand, no two Carolers are alike. “This is what makes Byers’ Choice pieces so special,” Byers said. “You can’t find this attention to detail in a product that is mass produced, and our artisans each have their own style and personality that they inject into each Caroler.”

Although Carolers have an international following of fans, Byers’ Choice has stayed true to its home-grown roots and the goal of providing customers with a high-quality, affordable product while giving back to those less fortunate. In the spirit of Christmas, Byers’ Choice donates 20 percent of its annual profits to charities … something that consumers won’t find from products made overseas.

About Byers’ Choice Ltd.
Byers’ Choice, creator of the famous Caroler® figurines, is one of the largest producers of Christmas decorations in the United States. Each Caroler is handmade in the company’s Bucks County, Pa. facility, which is also home to a Christmas museum and gift Emporium. Visitors are welcome to tour the factory and enjoy the miniature Christmas village and life-size Dickensian London street scene. For more information, visit www.byerschoice.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/byerschoiceltd and become a fan on Facebook.