New Balance Throwing You Off Balance?

Yes, patriotism is in - and marketers are picking up on the trend. But some, like New Balance, may be throwing you off balance when flag waving comes in.

The footwear company (whatever happened to sneakers?) has a new campaign announcing that their products are made in the USA. That distinguishes them from major competitors like Nike and Reebok whose factory workers chug away in places like China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The campaign even includes a documentary. Race over to newbalance.com/USA and you’ll hear testimonials from Maine factory workers who use such words as “pride” “community” and, of course, “Made in the USA.”

 Still, while the company does manufacture in Maine and Massachusetts, only a quarter of their products are made here. The rest come from far off places like Norway and the UK.

So, how does this recon with Made in the USA ad campaign? Some might say it’s a bunch of fancy footwork. Hummm...