Pandemic urged Mark Andol to reorganize his western New York retail. Time to participate in the bus tour.
On April 3rd, the businessman Mark andre celebrates 15thh The anniversary of his maid in American store in Elma, New York, just outside Buffalo.
This very specific retail corner has turned him into a spokesman and an encyclopedia of consumer products that are still made in the United States. And since the first store opened in 2010, Andol has been a year of success in 2025.
The experiment began after Andol’s general welding and manufacturing companies lost half of their businesses from Chinese companies in 2008. He was forced to close two of the four plants and was forced to fire half of his labor.
Andour wanted to create more American employment by offshoring American products. And that’s where the idea of Made in America Store has begun. A retail store that sold only products made in the United States.
Friends and family told him that he was stupid and wasting time. They said they didn’t care where the products were manufactured.
“Everyone bet on me and I didn’t care,” said 58 -year -old Andol.
After all, the idea of an American store in Andol was exactly what Ankle Sam ordered.
When the flagship store opened in 2010, the stock was only 50 products created by a small number of manufacturers. The store was expanded in 2020 and is now about 15,000 products made in the United States.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit his real store strategy, and during that time increased Andol’s online presence.
“During the pandemic, our website was just strange,” he said. “Everybody was at home, so I exceeded $ 1 million on the website.
“In the end, we had to close other places, except for flagship stores and Niagara waterfalls because people were at home and were shopping online.”
Destination: Elma
The Made in America Store has grown before the pandemic, but Andol has discovered that it can increase sales by leading customers to products. His team has begun to book a 12,000 -square -foot bus tour to Herma Store.
“The bus tour was going well, but the bus was cut off during the pandemic,” Andol said. “One bus appeared at the height of the pandemic, but last year I returned to 220 buses.
“If 500 buses appear this year, I think it will succeed. That is our goal.”
Another victim of the Pandemic era was a small store opened by Andol in western New York. At one point, there were seven chains. When they became impossible, Andour changed the business model to a Made in America Store product into an established retail store section.
“The concept of this store is to make it very easy for the store to buy from us,” says Andol. “We help them manage their inventory, we break the case for them, that is, they can buy two hot sources instead of the whole case.
“These are existing stores, have license agreements, and have a license agreement. We are almost shaking hands, so we can easily enter our contract.
“They can have a 4 -foot section or 11 -foot section in the store. I ask that they purchased 100 % of the United States through us and have been designated by their stores. The area must be made only in the United States.
“This is a better plan to get more products nationwide.”
“Was waving their hands and talking about me.”
In fact, Made in America’s store sections are located at more than 20 retailers in the United States, including Wisconsin, Virginia, Michigan, Arkannsaw, and Carolina.
However, it is important to enjoy and educate people on a bus tour that appears on the flagship of Elma.
“Bus carries up to 56 people, including drivers. It’s very fun to deliver 50 to the store for 3 hours,” says Andol. “That’s one of my highlights. Shake their hands, talk about my story, and just have a good time with them.
“They get a kick, then they love seeing what Americans are making. Most of our population statistics are 50 to 100 years ago, and they are always here. I remember being built and built here. “
The bus came from all over the United States, and Andour said that the San Diego group came from the farthest place.
Andre feels that his business will recover rapidly in the new administration of Washington DC. He also believes that the possibility of talking about customs duties only boosts American exercises.
“If you use Made in America, there is no customs duties in the border,” he said. “No need for delivery containers. I think customs duties are the same. growing up Made in the United States. I think it will be useful for flattening the stadium.
“Customs duties will help you increase the price of imported goods. We buy locals and buy Americans. Please support the country you live! Don’t worry about tariffs. Worked in the United States. Imports are not affected in the United States.
