Hey everyone! We wanted to share a little more about who we source our products from, and why we love supporting made in the USA businesses. Full disclosure, we don't source our products exclusively from US based suppliers, but the vast majority (over 80%) of our store is sourced locally.
Why USA?
As US based business ourselves, we love discovering other small businesses across the country that we can collaborate with from a (slightly decreased) distance as opposed to sourcing the majority of our products from all over the world.
Seeking Inspiration
We are constantly sharing new discoveries of products, places, and people that align with the Aware House mission. As a Houston based company, we are lucky to be in a city filled with creators, artists, chefs, and places to discover around every corner.
Supporting Individual Creators
It’s no secret that being an entrepreneur, artist, or small business owner can be a risky venture and requires full on dedication and capital investment. The odds are tricky; in the US around 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% fail during the first five years, and 65% fail during the first 10 years. Business failures traditionally are the highest among small firms with fewer than five employees.
A Tough Few Years
As if starting and running a business in this day and age wasn’t challenging enough, the past few years since the pandemic have brought on further cost increases in everything from raw materials, to labor, rent, gas, and so forth. According to the Wall Street Journal, the first year of the pandemic resulted in an additional 200,000 closures of businesses above historic levels, two thirds of which were corporations owned by individuals.
Making Moves
We think its time for a change. Focusing our supplier base within the US means that we are helping people continue to make their dreams a reality in the local economy, while also supporting thoughtful and ethical sourcing, labor, and manufacturing practices. By supporting Aware House, you are contributing to the individuals we work with and provide us the opportunity to further expand our supplier portfolio both in the US and across the globe!
