Buy a Yellow Ribbon Magnet....Cheap!

Right after the war started in Iraq you couldn't pass a car without a Yellow Ribbon Magnet that said "Support the Troops". Lately I haven't seen as many. Could it be that the war in Iraq has become unpopular. I don't think it means we don't support our troops.

From Financial Times:

Yellow ribbons dwindle with war support
By Andrew Ward in Atlanta

Published: March 2 2007 22:18 | Last updated: March 2 2007 23:02

For three years after the invasion of Iraq, it was difficult to drive more than a few miles through middle America without seeing a car displaying a magnetic yellow ribbon.

The magnets, bearing the slogan “Support Our Troops”, became a symbol of patriotism for millions of US motorists.

But as support for the war fades, demand for yellow ribbons has collapsed.

Magnet America, the largest manufacturer of the product, has seen sales fall from a peak of 1.2m in August 2004 to about 4,000 a month and now has an unsold stockpile of about 1m magnets.

“We have enough supplies to meet demand for years to come,” said Micah Pattisall, director of operations. “Every product has a lifespan and this one has run its course.”

At its peak, the North Carolina-based company employed 180 people to handle sales, marketing and distribution. Today, it employs 11 people.

Mr Pattisall said declining support for the war was not the only reason for the slump.

A flood of cheap imports from China also hurt the company, which has refused to shift production overseas even though it costs three times as much to manufacture in the US.

Only about half a dozen companies are still supplying the magnets compared with up to 200 at the height of the fad, according to Mr Pattisall.

So there is a surplus; plus China got into the act! Sometimes you just can't win.

Next time you see a car with a magnet, ask the owner where it came from. And tell them that by buying that magnet they are supporting the Chinese economy.