FTC Throws Made-In-The-USA Shade

Commission casts its shadow over two companies' all-American claims

Already?!

The beginning of the new year serves up two interesting cases of companies that ran afoul of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly false "Made-in-the-USA" claims.

Mad at Hatters

The FTC took aim at Pennsylvania-based Bollman Hat Company with a complaint filed on Jan. 23, 2018. The Commission claims that Bollman, while touting its patriotism using taglines like "Made in USA," "Choose American," and "Made in USA since 1868"—it even boasted a subsidiary named "SaveAnAmericanJob"—was peddling hats that were finished products before they were imported to the United States. The FTC estimates that 70% of Bollman's hat styles were made in foreign countries.