ATG Stores Launches American-Made Lighting Website

PRLog (Press Release) – May 06, 2008 – Kirkland, WA – ATG Stores, the parent company of 22 home furnishings related e-commerce sites, and 12 showrooms located throughout Washington State, is proud to announce the launch of a new site dedicated entirely to American-Made Lighting.

AmericanMadeLighting.com was created to offer shoppers the widest selection of American-Made lighting on the internet. All products available on AmericanMadeLighting.com are constructed in the USA by independent manufacturers who maintain a dedication to quality and true artisan craftsmanship. Customers can shop with confidence knowing that their purchases will help support the struggling United States national economy, as well as the workers and designers who produced these products.

While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) considers products “Made in the USA” to consist of ‘all or virtually all’ domestically produced or manufactured parts and labor, the FTC does not take into consideration the location or ownership of the company. ATG’s standard is different, considering “American-Made Lighting” to be constructed of over 51% American-Made parts, completely assembled within the United States, and manufactured by companies both owned and operated nationally.

Gary Rubens, CEO of ATG Stores explains, “For example, if a company based in the United States builds an iron frame for a specific fixture, wires, and assembles the fixture locally, but the glass component is manufactured in China, the product would not qualify as ‘Made in the USA’ [according to the FTC’s regulations], because the glass bowl is a substantial part of the overall product. Since ATG considers ‘American-Made’ products to be constructed of mostly all locally produced materials, this product would qualify.” Rubens continued that “customers often ask specific questions about a product’s country of origin, as supporting US companies and manufacturing is quickly becoming an issue of importance.”

ATG hopes that providing a site dedicated to American-Made lighting will encourage US consumers to make buying decisions that will support local businesses. With a national economic downturn forecasted, ATG aims to promote economic growth by becoming the source for American-Made lighting on the web.

About ATG Stores
ATG Stores, parent company of Lighting Universe, Fixture Universe, Floors and Surfaces, Knobs and Hardware and Décor Universe as well as 16 niche sites, offers customers access to over 1 million products from more than 600 manufacturers. The ATG family of stores has become the premier shopping destination for industry professionals and homeowners wanting to build, remodel, and beautify their homes and businesses. Established in 1999, ATG owns and operates an extended family of 22 online stores and 12 showrooms throughout Washington State. With more than 1 million online site visitors per month, ATG has market visibility attractive to well-known manufacturers such as Kohler, Mohawk, Thomas Lighting, Kenroy and Hubbardton Forge as well as exclusive manufacturer brands including Cascadia Lighting and First Light. This translates into superior selection, service and value for our clients.

For more information please visit AlliedTradeGroup.com, LightingUniverse.com, FixtureUniverse.com, FloorsandSurfaces.com, KnobsandHardware.com, DecorUniverse.com, or call 425.814.2515 ext. 2480