“WE MAKE THINGS HERE”

That’s a phrase people in northeastern Ohio will soon see and hear more often in advertisements and promotional materials. After decades of “Rust Belt” hell, manufacturing is enjoying a renaissance here. Many old-line industrial operations have fallen by the wayside while industries like aerospace, materials sciences and health sciences are growing. Industries that apply world-class technologies and techniques are flourishing here. That’s why the state’s regional economic development group, Team NEO, has chosen that phrase as their new tagline.

The phrase reflects new economic research showing that, between 2010 and 2015, manufacturing in the region’s 18 counties is expected to far outpace manufacturing growth in the rest of the country.

This phrase aptly describes Tusco Display, too. Unlike many display producers who may design and sell but outsource all of their manufacturing, Tusco Display has consistently reinvested in our manufacturing capabilities, even during the tough years of the recent past. That’s why we can say, “We make things here” today, too.

With modern production capabilities and skilled associates, northeast Ohio manufacturers are winning business and finding growing success. At Tusco Display, we’re proud to count ourselves among them.

Shoppers Gone Wild

Ten years ago, Black Friday was a phrase used in American retailing circles but not in the common vernacular. Today, who doesn't know about it? It's become a sport of Super Bowl proportions, involving over 226 million people, 6.6% more in 2011 than in 2010.

And they spent more. On average, Black Friday shoppers spent 9.1% more than they did a year ago, according the the National Retail Federation. In total, Black Friday spending topped $52.4 billion, up 16% over 2010.

Shoppers haven't let up either. IBM reports today that Cyber Monday sales grew by a whopping 33% over 2010, this on the heals of double-digit increases on both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, too. What's going on here? Have shoppers gotten into the liquor cabinet?

Some pundits fret that shoppers won't maintain this pace, that they're buying early and won't have staying power. Don't bet on it. The American consumer has become somewhat inured to the received wisdom that we're in a "bad economy," feels like she can spend more now than the holiday seasons of 2008, 2009 and 2010 and is determined splurge a bit. She's pared her debt load, cutting per-capita debt to 2005 levels, according the Bureau of Economic Analysis. "Hey, times aren't great but we're doing OK. I'm buying both blouses instead of just one."

This may bode well for improved general economic performance and the jobs picture in 2012. Since consumer spending makes up roughly 70% of our economy, when shoppers become buyers, our economy grows.

OCCUPY AISLE STREET

I haven’t slept well in weeks. Colder weather and unfriendly natives have dampened my spirits. Is it really worth it? Ever since I decided to camp out in the aisle of (name your least favorite store here), I’ve teetered between feelings of accomplishment and despair. We’ve been hassled by store security but, hey, this store is open 24-hours and I know my rights! Can we make these people listen? Don’t they know who we represent?

We are the 70%! Study after study confirm that, on average, shoppers make decisions on exactly what they will buy while in the aisle and at the shelf. We are the decisions made on what deodorant to buy, what brand and size ketchup bottle we purchase, what flavors of juice boxes we pack in our children’s lunchboxes, what style and package size of toilet paper we take home.

Marketers would rather we weren’t so loud. Why can’t we go home, let TV ads and radio spots and newspaper inserts and internet pop up ads work their magic? They’d rather we were invisible because we’re hard to track, difficult to define. Many of them just don’t know what to do with us.

But some people listen. Some people know where to put their marketing dollars. It’s right here. On-shelf, near-shelf, end of aisle, in the aisle. We are aisle violators and we won’t be denied.