What’s John Ratzenberger’s Favorite Pixar Voice?
Can you guess the answer? Watch the video “What’s John Ratzenberger’s Favorite Pixar Voice?” from ABC – Real Biz with Rebecca Jarvis.
read moreMade In America owner may expand beyond WNY
Written by David Bertola / Buffalo Business First Reporter – Buffalo Business First Made In America Store, which has four area locations, may open other locations outside the region. Owner Mark Andol, who also runs General Welding & Fabricating Inc. in Elma, said that he’s considering a local mall, as well as sites in Erie, Pa., Missouri and Tennessee. Currently, he operates stores near the General Welding site, plus those in McKinley Mall, Eastern Hills Mall and in Niagara Falls, which opened since 2013. He said that the flagship store, located at 900 Maple Road in Elma, has become a tourist destination that this past year, hosted its 380th tour bus. All total, he said the stores generate about $2 million in revenues. Between both companies, he employs about 70. In 2010, the year Andol opened his first store, he hosted a visiting Russian TV network. He launched the retail store because his metal working company was losing work to overseas competitors, causing him to lay off staff. All total, Andol said his 18,000 square-foot distribution center houses 6,500 different products, which he researches to make sure that products he sells are 100 percent American made. That means that if a twist tie or piece of cellophane packaging on a prospective product are sourced overseas, they don’t make their way to his store shelves. Recently, Andol has partnered with actor John Ratzenberger, who was in Buffalo in November and signed a Made in America gift box. Ratzenberger starred in the TV sitcom “Cheers” and hosted a show about U.S.-made products. “He’s a carpenter, and I’m a metal guy,” said Andol, who said he also featured in a documentary about American-made products. The film, which can be downloaded here. “It’s a feature documentary but inspirational,” Andol said. “This was about four years in the making, and it raises awareness and helps people know more about consumer products. It went to video-on-demand this past spring. It shows the importance of buying and producing more than you consume in our...
read moreBuy American, Watch Your Taxes Go Down
Written by Bonnie Lee / Taxpertise / Published December 19, 2014 on FOXBusiness You remember Cliff Claven, the postman from the popular television series, Cheers? He’d philosophize and pontificate and come up with the most interesting factoids. Well, Cliff Claven was played by talented comedian and actor John Ratzenberger. I recently had the opportunity to interview him about buying American made products. And with only a few shopping days left until Christmas, that’s exactly was Ratzenberger wants us to do. Ratzenberger is touring the country promoting the concept of buying American. In fact, he and entrepreneur Mark Andol have created a website, madeinamericastore.com, which educates the public on the advantages and necessity of buying American and also sells American made products. Currently on special for the holidays are gift boxes of made-in-America products designed for children, men, and women, respectively. He gives an example as to why, if we want to experience economic growth, it is important to buy American. “If you buy a T-shirt made in China for $4-5 cheaper than you can get here, you will eventually put the American T-shirt company out of business.” This company will then no longer pay for a business license (tax), collect and pay sales taxes, or pay income taxes to the state and to Uncle Sam. Lower tax revenues eventually lead to economic decline. It also leads to the missing tax dollars being made up by the rest of the population. “It’s a domino effect,” Ratzenberger says. “I know a lot of truckers in Los Angeles. They used to take a truck load of merchandise back east and return with a full load of merchandise to be shipped out from L.A. to points around the world. You know what they’re telling me now? They’re coming back empty.” This is a reduction in the trucker’s pay. Therefore a reduction in the amount of taxes he pays. Everyone is affected. If there are fewer truckers on the road, there’s less need for truck stops and fuel and junk food too. Ratzenberger grew up in Bridgeport, Ct., a manufacturing town. He started out as a journeyman carpenter. In fact, he helped build the stage at Woodstock. “All my heroes were people who could make things. Manufacturing is our strength. It’s the people who get up in the morning and put their hands to something that make America strong. But they are eliminating shop courses in schools and people are losing skills.” Ratzenberger feels that this must change or our country will suffer. Ratzenberger claims the tools made by American manufacturers, such as the Estwing hammer, will last far longer than its Chinese counterpart. He says, “I can spot a Chinese hammer from yards away just by the way the metal glints off the sun. Those hammers chip and break in no time at all. Whereas an Estwing hammer can be handed down from one generation to the next.” You get what you pay for. Products made in China are of poorer quality. Not only that, but Ratzenberger adds, “There are no laws in China covering environmental issues. They do whatever they want. One third of all our air and water pollution comes from China. They have no EPA. In America we have found ways to protect the environment but these methods cost money. As a result, we must charge higher...
read moreFox 6 WBRC John Ratzenberger Segment
Best known for portraying TV’s most famous mailman ever, the philosophical ‘Cliff Clavin’ on iconic Cheers and the only star to appear in every Pixar film, Ratzenberger has touted buying American-made products for some time, emphasizes the need for more manufacturing jobs and is vocal on why we must commit to investing in growing our skilled labor force. The holiday gift boxes put together by the Made in America Store is a great idea and another way to bring attention to this critical issue of putting our country back to work, keeping manufacturing alive and buying domestic made merchandise. By endorsing American-made goods, John and the Made in America Store team are supporting American workers, families and businesses at the most important time of year. As a country, they are at the forefront of making a conscious effort to communicate that all of us should buy American whenever we can. American manufacturing generates $1.8 trillion in GDP; it’s time to stimulate our own economy. John emphasizes, “I, myself, am on the frontline of involvement and recently established the Foundation for America which is dedicated to helping train the next generation of skilled laborers.” For more on Ratzenberger, visit ratzenberger.com and for more on the Made in America boxes, visit madeinamericastore.com. Check out the online article to read the full story...
read more‘The Santa Con’ Star Is a Favorite of Sitcoms & Pixar
On Bustle online, Kayla Hawkins asks: What Is John Ratzenberger From? She says: …if you’re wondering what roles John Ratzenberger has played, the answer is: all of them. Or at least, more than you’d think. In the time he doesn’t spend acting, Ratzenberger stumps for more goods and services to be made in the USA. His reality show, Made in America, covered his journey around the country to profile different American manufacturers. And on his website, Ratzenberger sells gift baskets made up of household goods that are produced on American soil. So enjoy The Santa Con and look forward to whatever animated character Ratzenberger will undoubtedly be adding to the cast of Inside Out. Click here to read the full article by Kayla Hawkins...
read moreJohn Ratzenberger talks Made in America and more on Wake Up
John Ratzenberger talks Made in America and more on Wake Up On WIAT 42 News: You may know him as Cliff Clavin, Hammy the Piggy Bank, or even the Abominable Snowman, but John Ratzenberger doesn’t just love acting, he enjoys helping manufacturers of American made products. Nowadays you can find John on Made in America, a show he produces and hosts. The show focuses on American made products, a topic near and dear to his heart. He has also recently established the Foundation for America which he hopes will help raise money to support school districts and non-profit organizations around the country to teach kids trade. Check out the full...
read moreUSA Today: Made in America Gift Boxes
Ask an Expert: Turning a hobby into business Published on USA Today, December 8, 2014, by Steve Strauss. Today’s tip: One of the best advocates out there for American made products and manufacturing is actor John Ratzenberger, who not only of course played Cliff on Cheers, but is the only actor to be in every Pixar film (he’s shooting Toy Story 4 right now.) This year, John has teamed up with the Made in America Store to offer some great holiday gift boxes as a “way to bring attention to this critical issue of putting our country back to work, keeping manufacturing alive and buying domestic made merchandise.” You can support this great cause, and buy some quality made in American-made products, by going here. Steve Strauss, @Steve Strauss on Twitter, is a lawyer specializing in small business and entrepreneurship. E-mail Steve at: [email protected]. His website...
read moreHandyman, ‘Cheers’ and Pixar star John Ratzenberger visits Made in America stores
Interview by Joshua Maloni. View full article online >> John Ratzenberger’s reason for getting into acting was simple. “You didn’t have to pound nails in the middle of August on a rooftop,” he said. “It was indoor work. That’s what attracted me.” Fair enough. But it was those nail-pounding days as a journeyman carpenter in the late 1960s that made Ratzenberger successful at whatever he’s put his hands to, including a starring role as know-it-all mailman Cliff Clavin on “Cheers.” “When I was very, very young, I used to take apart old appliances; always wondered how things worked; and how deep does a telephone pole go into the ground, kind of thing. My curiosity always took me there,” Ratzenberger said in a phone interview Friday. “Luckily, I grew up in a factory town – Bridgeport, Connecticut – and there was a lot of people around me that knew how to do things – knew how to make things and fix things.” Unfortunately, the actor said, “Slowly, you realize that that doesn’t happen anymore. “How many people under 35 years old are handy with a toolbox? Can change their own car tire? Or plant a garden for that matter? I think it might’ve been in the last generation. But that’s what we did. “When we went outside to play, we thought we were playing. But we were actually problem-solving. We were climbing trees, building treehouses, fixing our own bicycles. So, by the time we got to be adults, we were pretty handy. We sort of knew how to use tools. “But we’ve taken that away from our kids 30 years ago when we started cancelling shop classes and home-ec classes. That’s why it’s important to buy things made in America, because the more we manufacture here, the more those skills will stay here.” To that end, Ratzenberger is touting products made locally at the Made in America Store. He will appear at three locations Wednesday, signing men’s, women’s and children’s giftboxes that are bursting with domestically made goods. “Buy a gift for America,” Ratzenberger said. “If you buy it from the Made in America store, these giftboxes, you know, for mom, dad or the kids, whoever it is, you’re helping your neighbors – you’re helping America stay strong, because you’re supporting companies that make things in America.” Ratzenberger said buying products made overseas may save one a couple dollars now, but will ultimately lead to a loss of U.S. jobs, businesses, business locations and tax money. In promoting Ratzenberger’s appearance, Made in America founder Mark Andol said, “My business grew rapidly until we were caught in the crosshairs between the recession and a global demand for cheaper goods. Due to those factors, half of my workforce lost their jobs. It was the most painful experience in my life. “I started the Made in America Store in 2010 with the vision of being the only brick-and-mortar general merchandise store in the country. Today, we have four stores selling only American-made products – all the way down to the wrapping paper.” “He’s got over 4,000 products in the Made in America store,” Ratzenberger said. “If people can, it would be great if they come down just to see what he’s got there in the store.” “Mark has got a lot of guts...
read moreEvery Pixar Movie Character John Ratzenberger has Played
If you’re a fan of Pixar movies such as Toy Story and The Incredibles, you may have noticed a familiar voice. John Ratzenberger has been in every single Pixar movie to date, starting with Toy Story in 1995 and continuing all the way through the next Finding Nemo movie. Click here to view the full list with photos of all of John Ratzenberger’s characters >> Writer/producer Andrew Stanton said they had so much fun hanging out with him at the first Toy Story press junkets, they decided to work with him as much as possible in the future. And director Pete Docter just thinks Ratzenberger’s vocal work is recognizable. “He’s someone so clear, I know that guy after only two lines of dialogue. Having him in every film is like our Hitchcock...
read moreMade in America Month
November is Made in America Month! Friday, November 7th, Saturday, November 8th & Sunday, November 9th, we’re asking everyone to go out of their way to support National Small Business Weekend, which is held the first full weekend of every month. Thanks for your...
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