Apr 21, 2013

Made in America Makes its Mark in FallsBy Don GlynnLockportJournal.com

Niagara Falls, NY – A woman from the Philippines strolling through the souvenir shop in One Niagara smiled as she flipped over the “Niagara Falls” cap to inspect the label inside.

“What I thought was made in the U.S., I found was made in China,” said Percy Tabogdir, who now lives in Toronto. But that’s not the case any longer, she noted. Ms. Tabogdir appeared delighted to be among customers for the grand opening on Saturday of the Made in America store on the second level of the former Occidental Chemical Center, Niagara Street and Rainbow Boulevard. That Niagara Falls cap and everything else for sale in the store is manufactured in this country.

Mark Andol, the company president and owner, said his flagship Made in America store in Elma, started in a garage that also houses a general welding and fabricating facility. While operating the latter business, he realized that in 2007-2008 he had lost nearly one-half his business to China. 

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