Despite the turmoil caused by changing tariffs, manufacturing contributed 9.5% to U.S. gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2025. The manufacturing sector continues to grow, projecting that it will add 3.8 million new positions by 2033. Industry leaders have figured out innovative ways to tell their stories and shift to “just in time” manufacturing methods to optimize their business models.
Here are the top companies that achieved success crafting products in the United States.
Airstream
Airstream has been making iconic trailers and recreational vehicles in its Jackson Center, Ohio, plant since 1952. The company emphasizes the quality of its travel trailers and claims 70% of its produced trailers “are still on the road” today. Airstream sells its trailers to mostly U.S. consumers, but it ships its trailers all over the world.
Burt’s Bees
Durham, North Carolina-based Burt’s Bees may be renowned for its ubiquitous lip balm, but it should also be known for making its products in a tobacco warehouse that was converted into a factory. The company sources its hard-to-get beeswax in Tanzania, but the rest of the manufacturing happens in the United States. In addition to lip balm, the company sells many other manufactured-in-the-USA products, including makeup, face cream, body lotion, toothpaste, and more.
California House
California House offers custom-made, high-end game room furniture. Its items include pool tables, shuffleboard tables, home bars, stools, and more. All of its furniture and accessories are made at the company’s factory in Sacramento, which has been operating since 1953.
Gorilla Glue
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Gorilla Glue has steadily grown in popularity during the past two decades, with its line of adhesives, tapes, and sealants — all of which are made in the U.S. The family-owned company began selling its versatile polyurethane glue to consumers in 1999 and then expanded to manufacture and sell its own “tough” versions of duct tape and silicone sealants.
The manufacturing sector continues to grow, projecting that it will add 3.8 million new positions by 2033.
Heritage Bicycles
While Chicago-based Heritage Bicycles may have a name that sounds like it only manufactures bikes, it also sells coffee. The company has several retail locations in Chicago where you might walk in to grab a latte and then walk out with a new made-in-the-USA bicycle. Its bikes are a point of pride for the company, which claims it is the “only completely Chicago-made bike since Schwinn production left the city in the ’70s.”
L.L.Bean
Freeport, Maine-based L.L.Bean has been making its famous duck boots in the U.S. since 1912, and it continues to do so today. With a thriving catalog and numerous retail locations, not all of L.L.Bean’s products are still made in the United States. But the company sells more than 500 items on its website that are clearly marked as being “Made in the USA (including shoes, tote bags, pillows, rugs, and furniture) so discerning consumers know what is manufactured in Maine.
Lodge Manufacturing Company
In the world of cooking, cast-iron skillets have had a special place for chefs and consumers alike. Lodge Cast Iron, one of the most popular lines of cast-iron cookware, has been manufacturing items in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, since 1896. The company is still owned and managed by the descendants of founder Joseph Lodge.
Vermont Teddy Bear
One product you don’t often see made in the U.S. these days is toys, but the Vermont Teddy Bear company has been handcrafting bears since 1981. With a dedication to quality, the company offers a lifetime warranty on its bears, and the company’s “medical director,” Dr. Nancy, oversees “Bear Hospital,” where teddy bears are repaired. Sustainability is also a priority, with “100% recycled stuffing used in each bear.”
Vitamix
Cleveland, Ohio-based Vitamix offers high-performance blenders that are designed, built, and tested in the U.S. The company has a loyal following of devotees, with Vitamix owners recommending it to 13 people on average. Additionally, Vitamix is credited with creating the infomercial, which aired in 1949.
Zippo
When it comes to lighters, no brand is perhaps more iconic than Zippo, whose windproof lighters have changed very little during the past 78 years and still remain relevant. Zippo’s American-made lighters retain the basic design from the 1930s, but the company launches colorful new versions of the lighter each year, plus it offers candles, hand warmers, and various accessories.
Why should you manufacture in the U.S.?
Choosing to onshore your manufacturing isn’t always a straightforward decision. Perhaps the biggest benefit of manufacturing in the U.S. is supply chain control. The further from company headquarters your goods are made, the higher the risk of international shipping delays, customs inspections, and geopolitical disruptions.
In contrast, onshoring can deliver:
- Shorter lead times, cutting delivery timelines from months to days.
- Stronger protection of intellectual property, since keeping design and production in the same place can strengthen your oversight and control over how your goods are made.
- Faster problem-solving by working in the same time zone with partners who share a similar work ethic, which can streamline communication.
- Better supply chain resilience, as deliveries aren’t impacted by unpredictable global events.
Producing your products in the United States means you can fulfill orders more reliably, faster, and adjust to shifts in customer demand more responsively. There’s also a marketing advantage. Consumer demand for reshoring, whether driven by concerns about labor standards abroad or a sense of patriotism, is strong. Walmart's 2025 Open Call event welcomed over 500 entrepreneurs pitching U.S.-made products, with the retailer backing its commitment with $350 billion dedicated to American-made goods.
Programs that help small manufacturers scale
If you're a small, U.S.-based manufacturer looking to grow, there are programs built to help you.
A good starting point is the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a public-private network administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology with centers in all 50 states. MEP Centers provide hands-on consulting and training tailored to each manufacturer's unique challenges, from leadership training and value stream mapping to cybersecurity.
The Trump administration moved to cut funding for 10 MEP centers in April 2025, though it later reversed that decision; check your state's center for current availability.
On the funding side, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has several active programs, including the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative. The initiative seeks to increase access to capital, improve public and private investments to support U.S. manufacturers, and help U.S.-based small businesses export their products. The SBA announced that it will partner with trade schools and private sector stakeholders to create a skilled manufacturing workforce pipeline to help improve hiring in this critical sector.
‘Made in the USA’ rules: FTC regulations on labeling and marketing claims
If you're putting "Made in the USA" on your product, label, website, or marketing materials, U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules apply, and enforcement is active.
For a product to carry an unqualified "Made in the USA" claim, it must pass a three-part test: Final assembly or processing occurs in the United States, all significant processing takes place in the U.S., and all or virtually all ingredients or components are made and sourced domestically, meaning the product contains no or negligible foreign content.
If your product doesn’t meet every standard, you can make a qualified claim. “All or virtually all” means that the final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the United States. Essentially, the product should contain no or negligible foreign content. These types of qualified claims give you marketing flexibility without the legal exposure of an unqualified label you can't back up.
It’s worth reviewing the guidelines in detail to ensure you’re compliant. The FTC actively enforces Made in the USA rules. In July 2025, it issued warning letters to four companies and separately notified Amazon and Walmart about third-party sellers potentially making deceptive U.S.-origin claims on their platforms. Penalties can be steep: In 2024, the FTC fined Kubota North America Corporation $2 million for falsely labeling agricultural equipment parts as being made in the USA.
Avoid financial penalties by auditing your supply chain, documenting your sourcing, and ensuring that your marketing team members understand the claims they're authorized to make.
Sean Ludwig contributed to this article.
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