Navigating Product Origins: Tips for Managing Political Views on My Cooking Show

[booksx2]

I have a cooking show Saturday and I have been warned that one of the guests is "anti-products made in China." I contacted HO and know how to find where the products are made and have been going through the catalog and making notations. However, I don't want this guest to control this show with this political soapbox. Any suggestions on how I can gracefully handle this? Advise.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

In her biography, Doris addresses this.

When she was first starting out she tried very hard to get everything sourced in the USA, but for a lot of the products, she couldn't even get any manufacturer to work with her. They all told her no, so at that point she had no choice but to look elsewhere for help in manufacturing.

 

[Brenda.the.chef]

I had a guest like this as well at one of my shows. I just went on with my demonstration as if she didn't say anything. Drawing attention and reacting to negative comments (IMO) don't make a successful consultant. Anyone that has watched Good Morning America lately where they are challenging families across America to empty their homes with anything that is NOT made in America. They are literally left with just a handful of items. So, it's not just Pampered Chef outsourcing.....it's America.All I can say is best of luck to you! There are products in our catalog that are made in the USA, but not a lot.

 

[babywings76]

My dad gets annoyed with everything being outsourced to China, but he drives me crazy. If things were manufactured here it would cost a fortune. And like mentioned earlier, Doris tried. Companies just won't make everything here. I'm glad PC tries to get things here if they can. Our stoneware is made in the USA, so that's one great thing!One thing to consider is that even though the product is manufactured in another country, it's providing TONS of Americans jobs.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

My dad gets annoyed with everything being outsourced to China, but he drives me crazy. If things were manufactured here it would cost a fortune. And like mentioned earlier, Doris tried. Companies just won't make everything here. I'm glad PC tries to get things here if they can. Our stoneware is made in the USA, so that's one great thing!

One thing to consider is that even though the product is manufactured in another country, it's providing TONS of Americans jobs.

So is the Cool n Serve! I like to point that out to people. That's a big ol' plastic piece to be made in the USA!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

If she expresses negative stuff about products made in China, I would just focus on the ones that are not. Such as, "Then you'll be happy to know all our stoneware is made in the US. You have to be careful with stoneware because some made in other countries contain lead. Ours do not."

 

[nikked]

I always point out that while SOME of our products are made in other countries (not just China), TPC is an AMERICAN company employing Americans, and they are supporting America when the shop TPC!

 

[esavvymom]

I mentioned it in the chat box, but this thread had this discussion..You might get some other ideas from it as well: http://www.chefsuccess.com/f18/made-china-61829/

 

[booksx2]

Thanks so much for your help! Esavvymom, thanks for the thread link. I've read it and feel more prepared to handle this now! Wish me luck!

 

[Paula R. Lewis]

Pampered Chef Home Office recently explained it to me this way....We actually DO have products made in the USA, such as the stoneware, but also the pantry products and cookbooks, too! We really shouldn't expect to have everything made here, because, after all, Pampered Chef is actually an international company now, a point I hadn't thought of before. When considering this, it made it alot easier to accept!!

Good luck with your show!!