2010 Made in Michigan Product of the Year Announced

It’s a tough job but someone has to try the numerous high quality products that are made in Michigan. Many were outstanding but one product stood out as this year’s best. We are proud to announce that Will Cole Caramel Corn, produced by Will Cole Company in Clarkston, MI is our first ever Made in Michigan Movement Product of the Year. It’s more than caramel and popcorn. It's buttery and not overly sweet. If Mardi Gras and Carnivale were a snack, they would be Will Cole Caramel Corn. This product was so good that the best description given for it by one of our judges was, “Ridiculously good.” We concur. Congratulations to the entire team at Will Cole Company. Find out more information about Will Cole Company at www.willcolechocolates.com.

Honorable Mention Awards
Dip Sensations (Bath, MI) Loaded Potato Skins Dip Mix: This product was right on and true with its flavor description. Our test kitchen tried this on veggies and a crusty bread varieties. A homerun every time. This was quite delicious and an added joy came in the simplicity of preparation (we only needed to add sour cream) and it was a consensus panel favorite. www.dipsensations.com

Pitt & Co. (Rochester Hills, MI) Ultimate Wing Sauce: A company that has found the delicate balance between spice and heat. Yes, it’s spicy but finishes smooth. Beyond being a grilling sauce, we found this to work well on Deviled Eggs, as a popcorn flavoring and as an injectable meat marinade. However, this sauce really delivered when we tried it in Bloody Marys. www.ultimatewingsauce.com

DogWood Farm/Dancing Goat Creamery (Byron Center, MI) Fresh Chevre (plain): Made by a Master Cheesemaker, we were introduced to this dairy masterpiece while in Grand Rapids. Truly the best goat cheese in the state of Michigan if not arguably the entire country. We found this to work best with Cortland apples slices and a good Michigan-made Riesling. www.dogwoodfarm.net

Arbor Brewing Company (Ann Arbor, MI) Sacred Cow I.P.A.: A glass of golden, hoppy, citrus and floral goodness. We enjoyed this gem in-house and had it pulled from the cask which is served at barrel temperature. You sip and wait, wait, wait for it—YAHTZEE! The hops kick in and for a brief moment, all is right with the world. Available in bottles but make the trip to A2 for this experience. www.arborbrewing.com

Holiday Gift Guide Correction

We goofed and you caught it. We have received an overwhelming amount of feedback from our loyal followers that the link for the Michigan ice trays in the Holiday Guide is incorrect. We do apologize. The correct link for the Michigan ice trays produced by the FSI Group is www.miicetrays.com. The link to our Annual Holiday Food, Grocery & Gift Guide is http://preview.tinyurl.com/26c8bfd.

2010: A Year of Thanksgiving and Reflection

2010 was a whirlwind experience for the Made in Michigan Movement. Our organization grew by over 40% and we made connections with business owners and citizens alike in virtually ever corner of the state. However, before we dispel the details of a solid year of accomplishment, we feel it important to give thanks.

First, we give thanks for the opportunity to serve our state community. It is the greatest honor to be able to put forth this effort and to help raise this state up towards a brighter future. Further, we give thanks to the great people of Michigan. You have extended kindness, friendship and support to our organization each and every day and for this we are eternally grateful. Finally, thank you to the small business owners of Michigan. You are the hardest working and most dedicated group of professionals to work with and it genuinely is an honor to serve you as well.

It has been a year of continuous motion. We logged over 17,000 miles meeting Michigan business owners and citizens alike. Of those traveled miles, we are most proud of the fact that we recorded over 400 miles in the Upper Peninsula. Although only for a day, we were able to experience a piece of Michigan’s northern majesty. Our travels allowed us to set foot in three of the five Great Lakes, experience the watery rush of the falls in both Tahquemenon and Ocqueoc, attend six community and 4-H fairs and festivals, swat endless mosquitoes and catch some of the most remarkable sunsets that God himself intended us to experience. We shared laughter and tears as the journey allowed us to meet some of Michigan’s most fascinating and colorful people that exemplify our diversity that make up the fabric of our state community. In 2011, our goal is to log over 20,000 in-state miles with 700 of those miles currently being charted for the UP.

The travel is extraordinary and fun but the majority of our time is actually spent working. We launched the Made in Michigan Show which currently runs live 1-2 times per month while being free and continuously available for a listen or download. The Made in Michigan Show is a collection of Michigan voices from around the state that demonstrate what is positive about Michigan. Notably, we had the good fortunate to listen to and speak with Michigan native Amy Roloff from the TLC hit series Little People Big World, Michigan Magazine host Barry Stutesman, Better Made Potato Chips President Michael Schena and the editor of the Grand Rapids Social Diary, Laura Caprara to name just a few. The Made in Michigan Show streams live via TalkShoe.com and has an interactive format during the live show to allow audience participation. You can catch all of our scheduled interviews and conversations of past at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/77130.

In September, the Made in Michigan Movement was selected by the WWJ Newsradio 950’s Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report as the 2010 Michigan Champion of the Year. This incredible honor was presented to us by editor Matt Roush at the awards ceremony of the Igniting Innovation In Michigan: Entrepreneurs in Action held at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn, MI. We will continue to work hard to uphold this honor bestowed upon us. Thank you to Matt Roush and the GLITR Awards nomination committee.

We are most proud of the successful October launch of the Made in Michigan Marketplace. The Marketplace is a catalog-style fundraising system that allows any group, school, person or organization to raise funds while directly supporting the Michigan small business community. These diverse premium-grade products have a universal, everyday appeal and range from salad dressings, table condiments, candles to Michigan-shaped ice trays. Unlike other fundraising systems that offer you inferior, foreign-made or low-quality products at ridiculous prices, the Marketplace offers you honest products, made by honest companies, sold at honest prices while yielding honest returns and keeping 100% of the revenue in the state of Michigan. Simply put, the Marketplace is great for your organization, great for the Michigan small business community and great for our economy. The Marketplace works well for school groups, sports teams, religious organizations, Komen 3-Day for the Cure participants or any group or individual looking to raise funds for a need. Currently the Marketplace fundraising system is available in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County. We are expanding this opportunity in 2011 to an on-line format that would make it available statewide. Details will be forthcoming. For more information visit our website http://www.madeinmichiganmovement.com/marketplace or send us an inquiry at info@madeinmichiganmovement.com.

In closing, we want to again thank all of you for your continued support. 2011 looks to be another year of accomplishment, adventure and opportunity for the Made in Michigan Movement. We wish you all good health, prosperity and peace as we close one year and begin another. From our family to yours, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Made in Michigan Movement Cuts Advertising Rates For Remainder of 2010

Advertising is a long-standing financial pain for most businesses but particularly micro and small businesses. During tough economic times, these are the first areas of cutbacks. Even during boom times ROI is always a major concern with this area of investment. "When it comes to advertising, it's like a junior high dance. We [advertisers] stand on one side of the floor while our customers and clients stand on the other side, awkwardly looking at each other while nothing happens and the music keeps playing," said Neil Yaremchuk. He continued, "We're here to help Michigan businesses achieve their goals. If that means lowering our prices, even drastically for a brief period of time, to help achieve our mission and to meet their [business owners] needs, we'll make it happen. If you sit out too many dances, pretty soon the dance is over. We're just not willing to let this happen to Michigan business owners."

For more information regarding our advertising rates and opportunities, click on the advertising link on our website or email us at info@madeinmichiganmovement.com.

Contact the Made in Michigan Movement

Email: info@madeinmichiganmovement.com.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-8PM

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