Buying a home appliance involves many considerations, such as the location and existing space, electrical or plumbing hookups and their locations, the features you want, etc.
Finding the right item that meets your checklist – and your budget! – can take weeks or months of research, visiting stores, reading reviews, and asking friends or neighbors.
Adding “Made in USA” to your list is often a nice-to-have.
Such was the case with my LinkedIn friend, Allison Giddens, who purchased a GE gas stove. When she posted the photo to LinkedIn, I was surprised and delighted to hear the stove had been assembled in Georgia!
Since I’m in the market for one as well, I asked Allison to share her insights on her purchase and the considerations she had in mind when searching for a gas stove.
DH: What prompted you to consider buying a new gas stove?
AG: It began around Thanksgiving; I noticed my 12-year old stove was taking time to heat things. I began dropping hints to my husband and also asked my Facebook friends if anyone had purchased a stove recently.
I received lots of opinions: one person recommended I go high-end, as in a $35K Viking range; others told me which brands NOT to buy.
One friend, however, works at GE and sent me a link to look at. Viewing the website, I could see we had lots of options and price points – so I began comparison shopping at big box stores to get an idea about pricing and specific features.
Choosing the features we wanted was the most time consuming part of the process. For example, I didn’t need or want a warming drawer. We finally chose a GE Café Line model with six burners, a middle griddle, and a built-in air fryer, which freed up counter space.
DH: In your LinkedIn post, you said you had toured the factory where the stove was made. Did this factor into your purchase decision?
AG: I’m a member of Women in Manufacturing (WiM); a colleague reminded me we had toured the factory where the Café Line of stoves are assembled in Lafayette, GA. It didn’t seal the deal, but it was a checkbox on the list.
DH: I think it’s thrilling you actually toured the plant where your stove was made! What do you remember about the tour?
AG: That the assembly space was MASSIVE. The plant had lines for many types of products and everything was super organized. I remember seeing lots of women on the shop floor, and that everyone was so proud of what they did and where they worked.
In fact, some of the people on the shop floor knew a few of the women in my WiM group. I felt lots of good vibes.
DH: For people who want to buy more Made in USA items, but don’t know where to begin, what’s your advice?
AG: Get input from your friends or network. When you ask for people’s recommendations, add the qualifier, “I want it made in the USA.” That way, you’ll get more tailored responses.
I would also add, consider security for items that have electronic components, which our stove does. Electronics made in the US are hard to come by; electronics made in China may not be secure.
In fact, I believe “Made in USA” is going to become much more important for security reasons. Because I’m in manufacturing and do work for aerospace companies, I can’t buy materials from specific countries and everything has to be certified. As more consumers become aware, the “Made in USA” requirement will become more important to them as well.
DH: Last question: What is the benefit, in your opinion, about purchasing items made here?
AG: For me, it was the quality of my stove. It’s very high end and reminds me of commercial grade. I also love that it was made in my backyard. That’s what Made in USA is about: the items we buy are made by people here in the US – by people we might even know.
About Allison Giddens
Allison is Co-President of Win-Tech, a veteran-owned small business manufacturer specializing in aerospace precision machined parts. She’s also a humorist and an Atlanta Braves fan.
I know her on LinkedIn, however, as the expert in cybersecurity for manufacturing, and the proposed rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). In fact, I tell my manufacturing clients they should be following her!
Allison is often a guest on podcasts and/or hosts LinkedIn livestreams about cybersecurity and other topics for manufacturers, so be sure to give her a follow. She’s very smart! (Links below)
Post-script
GE Appliances is now owned by Haier, a Chinese company.
The assembly plant is owned by Roper Corporation, an appliance manufacturer and wholly-owned subsidiary of GE Appliances. In 2023, the company announced it had invested $118 million in the plant. Improvements included high-tech assembly lines and robotics. The company added 600 jobs.
Roper is the largest employer in Walker County, GA and one of the largest employers in the state with more than 2,000 employees, according to the company website.
Even though the company isn’t US-owned, losing this manufacturing facility would be a huge blow to the state – and to consumers in general. Let’s hope they continue to “Keep It Made USA.”
Links
Win-Tech, Inc. — Allison’s company
Full Disclosure
I’m not paid nor asked to write about products or the companies that make them. All links in this piece are “free.”
My mission is to keep manufacturing jobs stateside and this blog is my way of giving back. We like to think a “small” choice, such as purchasing something made in the US by American workers, won’t make a difference. It does.
