US Trading Post Directory

Littlecrow Trading Post
http://www.littlecrowtradingpost.com

Serving Pow-Wow Dancers From Many Nations
Creating custom powwow regalia for tribes across the United States & Canada, and custom native-inspired clothing for native enthusiasts and performers. Located remotely on Federal Trust land of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe in north-central Oklahoma, most business is done over the internet via email or by phone.

Bayrds Indian Trading Post
http://www.bayrdsindiantradingpost.com

NATIVE JEWELRY, ARTWORK, GIFTS AND COLLECTIBLES
Leonard Bayrd "Len Bayrd" established Bayrd's Indian Trading Post 1932 in the town of Wakefield, MA. Leonard Bayrd was born in 1899 and was a recognized member of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island.


Eagle Rock Trading Post
http://www.eaglerocktradingpost.com

Indian Jewelry-Native American Jewelry-Southwest Decor
Native American Indian jewelry and southwest jewelry. Offering vintage Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi made "Old Pawn" and contemporary "70's to present" rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watchbands, and belt buckles. We also have a wide selection of native and non-native made jewelry and home furnishings.


Four Winds Indian Trading Post
On Highway 93, three miles north of St. Ignatius, Montana.

The longest operating and oldest trading post in Montana!
The original log store was built in 1870 by Duncan McDonald and moved from nearby Ravalli to it's present location by Preston Miller over thirty years ago. A visit to our old-time store is a trip back in history. Beads, face paint, deer and moose hides, dance bells, real sinew and porcupine hair roaches (head dresses) are among the authentic goods found at Four Winds.


Clark’s Trading Post
http://www.clarkstradingpost.com

Home of Clark’s Trained Bears and the White Mountain Central Railroad
In 1928 Florence and Ed Clark opened a roadside attraction for White Mountain travelers in Lincoln NH. “Ed Clark’s Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch,” featured guided tours of their pure-bred Eskimo sled dogs and artifacts from the far North. The original “Stand,” or Trading Post, offered souvenirs, tonic, and maple candy to the motorists on nearby Route 3.

Parson's Indian Trading Post & Museum
http://www.parsonsindiantradingpost.com

Wisconsin Dells Native American Jewelry, Moccasins & Collectibles
One of the world's largest purveyors of Native American gifts and artifacts. At Parson's you'll find thousands and thousands of Native American items including jewelry, beads, artwork and clothing. Parson's features unique items from tribes from all over America, Canada, Mexico and Central America.

Smallwood Store
http://www.florida-everglades.com/chokol/smallw.htm

Ole Indian Trading Post and Museum Chokoloskee Florida
On the western edge of the Everglades and deep in the heart of the 10,000 Islands, Chokoloskee Island has been called one of Florida's last frontiers. Settlement brought a need for goods and mail and that need was met by the Smallwood Store. Established in 1906, this Trading Post served a remote area, buying hides, furs and farm produce and providing the goods required.


Hubbell Trading Post
http://www.nps.gov/hutr

National Park Service museum at Hubbell Trading Post National Historical Site
John Lorenzo Hubbell purchased a trading post here in 1878, ten years after Navajos returned to their homeland from their terrible exile at Bosque Redondo, Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. During the four years held at Bosque Redondo, Navajos were introduced to many new things. After they returned home, traders like Hubbell supplied those new items for the Navajo. Hubbell family members operated this trading post until it was sold to the National Park Service in 1965. The trading post store is still active.


Tecumseh's Trading Post
http://www.tecumsehs.com/

Authentic Handmade Traditional, Plains, & Woodland Clothing, Moccasins, Beadwork, Hudson Bay Coats. Reasonable Prices. Wholesale to Qualified Dealers.


Parker's Indian Trading Post
http://www.parkersindiantradingpost.biz

Cook Forest area gift shop in Cooksburg, PA
Established in the mid 1950’s and located on Rt. 36 (1 mile south of Cook Forest State Park)we invite you to stop in and browse through our Native American Gift, Souvenir and Rock Shop, where there is something for everyone.

American Quality in a Big Market

There is no substitute for old-fashioned American made quality.  Obviously (I hope it is obvious) this does not mean that just anything that happens to be produced in the United States is of good quality.  There is in every generation a portion of any society that has no pride in workmanship.

I applaud any nation and any group of people who take pride in their work.  When excellence is demanded by the maker then the marketplace responds with approval.  German and Swiss clocks, for example, bring a high price because the craftsmen in these nations have a reputation for building high quality products.  Japanese cars and electronics help to make Japan a successful society because people all around the world are willing to pay more.

There are many high quality and precision-made products being made today in America.  And most communities and households make good use of them.  But the world has changed.  Buying and selling is no longer concentrated in local regions of any society.  Yes, there are still towns and villages all over the world that are famous for some particular product, but those goods are now available in stores and outlets in nearly every major city, and most anything can be bought online.

The Internet has made any product available to any market in any region of the world.  Satellite connections make the Internet itself available anywhere in the world, in even the most remote regions.  And this means that a craftsman living alone in the wooded hills of Arkansas can now sell his unique wares to a citizen of Russia or South Africa or Iran or China.  All he has to do is get photos and descriptions online, and advertise his web pages.  He can upload an entire catalog by creating a PDF file that's web-friendly.  Anyone can reach any market online.

Quality craftsmanship still matters.  A single sale of most items will not pay the rent.  And an artisan's reputation can be challenged or even destroyed for good almost overnight if the products being online offered prove to be  consistently less than what is advertised.  Its better to undersell and have your market do the bragging than to promise more than you can deliver.

Honesty in the global market will prove profitable in the end.  That is a fact of life.  Many scammers and other dishonest schemers use websites and email to promote bogus or inferior products.  And they do make some money sometimes.  But then the word gets out, and eventually criminal charges may even be filed.  But the greatest penalty comes via bloggers and other Internet writers who report the truth about scams and the people behind them.  It's important to make honest claims about your service or product.  You may not get rich quick, but you will be able to continue in business while others are hiding out or spending time behind bars.

Quality is easy to achieve when pride and hard work are properly combined in the work place.  Make the extra effort to get things right.  Use quality materials.  Do the quality checking to make sure defects are discovered and eliminated before the product reaches the buyer. 

Remember the many product recalls made public every year.  Even when the recall is issued voluntarily by the manufacturer, some damage is done to the product's reputation.  But when the government or a consumer group must get involved, public opinion (the impressions made on would-be buyers of your products) is worsened.  The most cost-effective and publically positive course of action is to check and double-check before anything is ever offered to the buying market.

Take a look at some of the current recalls that are costing producers and retailers money.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (DOT)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

America is a great land.  We have great people, great ambitions and great ability.  We have a lot of control over every product we produce.  There is no reason for any of us to cut corners that will only come back to cost us the reputation we have worked hard to build in the market place.  Make good choices and produce the best products possible.  In the end it will pay back many times.

Jim Sutton