Cottage Industry May Save Modern America

The American economy and society as a whole just may be saved by a large-scale and wholehearted return to cottage industry. The very conditions that are killing off giant corporations and large-scale manufacturing may be opening the door to profitable home-based careers and family-run businesses — to an extent not seen in this country for nearly a century. Whatever you do, don't give up the family farm (or ranch) because it may be what saves both you and your nation. So what is cottage industry and how can it save our economy?

Early forms of an actual "cottage industry" sprang up across the European continent and in England during the early days of domestic cotton processing. Farm households took in raw cotton material distributed throughout the countryside by traveling merchants. Household members would then clean the cotton and spin it into yarn or thread. When the merchant returned with more raw cotton, he would pick up the processed material and take it to yet another home where weaving produced cloth. In these and similar conditions, individual families and homes (in actual houses or cottages) were a necessary part of a very specific larger and growing enterprise: the cotton industry.

Today, the term is still applied to any industry where at least one part of the larger manufacturing or developmental process is completed in private homes. Modern technology in America, and around the world, often involves many work-at-home programmers, writers, reporters, designers, manufacturers who are very much a part of cottage industry production and/or services.

The term is also more loosely applied to any business operated from the home. Mechanical parts and accessories for computers, automobiles, airplanes, and many other products are designed, developed and built in home operated businesses. Toys, books, furniture of all kinds, pet supplies and thousand other products are being produced in basements, garages, gardens or small shops in private residences. Magazines, newspapers, TV programming, popular music videos, and even motion pictures are also being produced or published at home.

Just about anything, from fine art to automobiles, can be produced at home, in the kitchen, the basement or the family garage. In fact, some of the most important products developed in America began at home. For example, a couple of young guys, Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak, developed electronic products in the Jobs' family garage, including the first computer that launched Apple Computers. Apple's longtime rival in the world of computer software, Microsoft, did not quite get its start at home, but in much smaller place, Bill Gates' dorm room, when he and Paul Allen decided to develop a computer program, BASIC, for a new computer on the market.

J.R. Watkins developed a soothing liniment at his kitchen table in Plainview, Minnesota, founding a little company called Watkins Incorporated. In fewer than 20 years, the corporation had outgrown both his home and the town. Today, Watkins products are sold all over the world by many thousands of representatives and in major retail stores. Chances are very good that you or someone in your family uses one or more of the famous Watkins products.

Another world-wide corporation represented by many thousands of independent representatives (and worth billions of dollars), Amway, was started by Jay Van Andel and his founding partner, Richard DeVos.

In 1946, David Dalquist Sr. started a business at home that continues to thrive to this day, and is still owned and operated by the same family. You may or may not be that familiar with Nordic Ware, but I'm sure you've seen the famous Bundt pan, and/or cakes that have been baked in one.

There are more stories than I could possibly recount here. History demonstrates that there is an enduring place for cottage industry. America's current economy may very well prove to be the best possible time to turn our attention to the home as a place to start a new career, to improve our income , or to even save the wonderful society in which we live.

What About Starting an Small Ad Sheet or Mini Advertiser Paper for Your Area?

Lots of people have asked me for information on starting a smaller-sized publication for their community. For various reasons, new publishers sometimes feel that a newsletter-sized adsheet would be better for their area. Some are unable to locate a web press within a reasonable distance. Others feel that ads are all that is really needed for now, just something to help the local businesses advertise without having to spend a huge amount. If this is you, then be sure to read the article on starting up a local ad sheet.

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Cottage Industry May Save Modern America