Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) Amid the trepidation about tariffs and the economy, one Western New York businessman sees promise in President Trump's tariff policies.
Mark Andol opened the Made in America Store in Elma fifteen years ago.
He opened it after losing much of his welding business to overseas competition.
"I lost a $3 million dollar account to China in the fall of 2007, before the recession hit in 2008. We couldn't compete with China, with the cost and lower labor wages."
Fast forward to today, Andol is still operating General Welding and Fabricating, as well as the Made in America store, directly across the street.
Andol said he is 100% behind increasing U.S. manufacturing.
"We need to rebuild the middle class and I think the government is finally helping us. We need to level the playing field. It will take time, but we can get there," he said.
The Made in America Store sells more than 15,000 items. Every item is 100% made in the United States.
He said now is the time to invest in American companies. He thinks the steel industry, chip manufacturing, and energy are industries poised to make a comeback.
"A lot of companies have taken advantage of us. It's not going to be easy. I've been fighting the fight for 15 years."
Asked what types of companies and industries that will be leading the comeback, Andol put the auto industry at the top of his list. "Our auto industry is going to get stronger. I know alternators, transmissions and a lot of parts are made overseas. I think we can make a lot of them here. We're already seeing chip manufacturing come back. Toy companies are moving back. We have to get back and focus on making our products here. Its a change that we had to have the government help us out on."
