Big buisness. Political mechandise. Does it make a difference?

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   tsmogposted 4 weeks ago

   A little history of political campaign merchandise dates back to George Washington days.
   
   Buttons to Banners: The role of merch in election campaigns over time published at Linked in (Nov 2, 2023)
   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/buttons- … time-cpncc
   
   "Election season wouldn’t be the same without promotional products. In fact, the industry can trace its beginning back to George Washington’s election in 1789. A commemorative button was created for his victory. The item became so popular, it gave people the idea to create other products for future political candidates. This marked the beginning of the modern promotional products industry.
   
   In modern elections, you see all different types of swag created to get a candidate's message out there from small items like button pins and bumper stickers to wearable items like T-shirts and caps. People love to show support for their candidate by putting a sign in their yard or hanging a flag at their door.
   
   The inherent power of these items is endless if you think about it. These merch items garner name recognition so undecided voters can seek out their campaign platforms and see if they are the right candidate for them. Candidates always have giveaways at their rallies so their brand can extend its reach beyond the event."
   
   However . . . controversy exists . . .
   
   Trump flags made in China: how tariff-flouting campaign kit flooded US market by Financial Times (Sept 23, 2024)
   US manufacturers say wrongly labelled online goods are eroding their election-year hopes
   https://www.ft.com/content/fb220a71-646 … 328feca32f
   
   "Chinese merchants have flooded online marketplaces to sell US presidential election merchandise — despite both sides in a campaign marked by hostility towards China seeking to promote locally made products.
   
   More than 90 per cent of the best-selling Donald Trump and Kamala Harris flags and hats on Amazon provide a seller’s address in China, according to a Financial Times analysis. Both candidates state on their official websites that they only sell US-made products.
   
   Chinese manufacturers interviewed by the FT said they were counting on direct online sales to supporters of the two candidates after orders from US retailers fell off amid tensions between Washington and Beijing.
   
   Many Chinese merchants say on their Amazon pages that their Trump or Harris campaign flags are US-made to appeal to patriotic American buyers, although they go through US customs with “made in China” labels."
   
   The final one line paragraph states . . .
   "American factories are just not as competitive as they use to be,” he said."
   
   With a little excursion Trump's official store merchandise outnumbers Harris 12:1 (Trump has 192 items while Harris has 16)
   
   Trump Store
   https://secure.winred.com/trump-nationa … gK4rPD_BwE
   
   Harris Store
   https://store.kamalaharris.com/?utm_sou … gLH3PD_BwE
   
   At Amazon searching Trump it indicates 30,000 results. Harris was a mix with other listings, yet Harris - Waltz had 5,000 results.
   
   Trump at Amazon
   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=trump&cr … _sb_noss_1
   
   Harris-Waltz at Amazon
   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=harris+walz& … -doa-p_2_6
   
   It is said 1/3 of supporters of either candidate will purchase some kind of merchandise.
   
   Questions . . .
   
   Is the contrast between Trump and Harris with listed merchandise a hint-hint of some type?
   
   Do you see yard signs in your neck of the woods?
   
   How about seeing T-shirts and hats?
   
   What about bumper stickers?
   
   Thoughts, criticisms, accolades, and commentary?

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