America250: Built Here. Built Better.

FLI Products and the Case for American-Made

In 2026, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the conversation about domestic manufacturing has never been more urgent — or more practical. For retail buyers, distributors, and sourcing teams, "Made in USA" is no longer just a label. It's a supply chain strategy.

At FLI Products, we've known that for more than two decades.

23 Years of Backing American Makers

FLI Products was founded with a simple, Midwestern conviction: great ideas deserve a real shot at retail shelves. Since our founding, we've spent 23+ years doing exactly that — identifying innovative products, partnering with American manufacturers, and doing the hard work of commercialization so that inventors and makers can focus on what they do best.

We are not a sourcing company. We are not an import broker. We are a retail product development company rooted in the belief that American manufacturing still wins — on quality, on reliability, on supply chain resilience, and on the kind of craftsmanship that earns repeat customers.

Our roots are Midwestern. Our values are straightforward: work hard, keep your word, build something that lasts, and stand behind it. Those values didn't come from a brand strategy document. They came from the communities, factories, and family businesses we've had the privilege of working alongside for more than two decades.

What We Do — and Why It Matters

FLI Products partners with American inventors, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers to bring products to market at retail scale. That means:

• Identifying products with genuine consumer utility and retail potential
• Working with domestic manufacturing partners to optimize production, packaging, and cost structure
• Building the retail relationships — with buyers at Walmart, Lowe's, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Target, Wayfair, Amazon, Zoro, Best Buy, Wingra Direct, Newegg, the BBQ Superstore, and West Marine — that get products in front of the right customers
• Supporting inventors and small businesses through the full commercialization journey, from prototype to purchase order

We've done this across categories: kitchen and housewares, garden and outdoor, home organization, safety, fishing, construction, and more. And in every case, the products we represent share one thing in common — they are designed, engineered, and manufactured in the United States of America.

Our Manufacturing Partners

The America250 campaign isn't just about FLI Products. It's about every American manufacturer, inventor, and entrepreneur behind the products we represent. Over the coming weeks, we'll be publishing the full story of each of our Made in USA partners — their history, their craft, and why their products belong on retail shelves across America.

Our current Made in USA product family includes:

• AnchorStake — Heavy-duty landscape anchors, made by Darter Plastics
• Bait Up — Premium live bait containers, made by Darter Plastics
• Blade Guard — Chef's knife blade protectors, made by The Rogers Manufacturing Company
• C-Bites — Modular plant support clips, made by Thriving Design
• CordSafe — Weatherproof outdoor cord covers, made by The Rogers Manufacturing Company
• CrateMate — Heavy-duty stackable storage crates, made by The Rogers Manufacturing Company
• Flex Strainer — 2-in-1 sink strainer and stopper, made by Darter Plastics
• GlazeLock Shims — Professional-grade installation shims, made by GlazeLock
• Hang It Simple — Modular wall-mount storage rail system, made in USA
• HoleMate — Floating ice fishing scoop, made by Darter Plastics
• MitoGrow — Plant biostimulant root booster, made by MitoGrow
• Peggy Pegboard Storage — Modular pegboard organization system, made by Peggy
• Stake It — No-dig garden trellis anchors, made by Stake It
• Stratus Precision Rain Gauges — Professional-grade weather instruments, made by Darter Plastics
• Tomato Crater — Root zone watering ring for tomatoes, made by Darter Plastics
• Travel Table — Portable truck driver's table by Fred Loso, Ground Start Products — coming soon to fliproducts.com
• Wendala's Sugar Scrub — Handcrafted sugar scrubs, made by Wendala's

Each of these products has a story. Each one represents an American entrepreneur who bet on themselves, an American manufacturer who invested in their craft, and an American supply chain that delivers without the uncertainty of overseas sourcing.

We'll be telling every one of those stories right here, in this blog, over the next 40 days.

Tom Whitaker: A Voice We Trust

One of the most important things FLI Products has ever done is invest in real voices — people who use these products, believe in them, and can speak to their value without a script.

Tom Whitaker is one of those voices.

Tom is a retired manufacturing professional, hobby farmer, proud grandfather, and a man who has spent 40 years doing things the right way — with patience, faith, and a deep respect for quality craftsmanship. He's not a celebrity. He's not an influencer. He's the kind of person who knows the difference between a product built to last and one built to be returned.

Tom partners with FLI Products because he believes what we believe: that American-made products are worth buying, worth recommending, and worth building a business around. You can read Tom's journal, explore his product recommendations, and learn from his decades of practical experience at fliproducts.com/pages/learn-from-tom.

"I'll never make this sound harder than it is. I'll just help you do the next right thing." — Tom Whitaker

Made in America — On Television

FLI Products is a regular guest on Made in America with Rita Compton and Michael King — a program dedicated to celebrating American-made products, domestic manufacturers, and the entrepreneurs who are keeping the tradition of American craftsmanship alive. Our appearances on the show reflect our ongoing commitment to amplifying the Made in USA story beyond the retail shelf and into the homes and conversations of everyday Americans.

Search for Made in America with Rita Compton and Michael King to find recent episodes featuring FLI Products and our manufacturing partners.

The Walmart Open Call Connection

Every year, Walmart hosts its Open Call event — one of the most significant opportunities in American retail for domestic suppliers to pitch their products directly to Walmart buyers. The program is Walmart's commitment to sourcing more products made, grown, or assembled in the United States, and it has helped thousands of American businesses earn shelf space in the world's largest retailer.

FLI Products and our manufacturing partners are proud participants in the Walmart Open Call ecosystem. Products like Blade Guard, CordSafe, CrateMate, Flex Strainer, Tomato Crater, and others in our portfolio are available at Walmart — and we continue to pursue expanded placement through the Open Call program.

If you are an American manufacturer interested in the Walmart Open Call program, visit corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/investing-in-american-jobs/events/annual-open-call to learn more and register.

Follow the conversation on social media: #WalmartOpenCall #MadeInUSA #America250

Where You Can Find FLI Products

Our Made in USA products are available across the retail channels you already shop:

• Walmart — in-store and online
• Amazon
• Lowe's
• Tractor Supply
• Target
• Wayfair
• Zoro
• Best Buy
• Wingra Direct
• Newegg
• The BBQ Superstore
• West Marine
• And right here at fliproducts.com

Why This Moment Matters

America's 250th anniversary is more than a milestone. It's a moment of reflection — and a moment of decision. For retail buyers, it's a question of whether the supply chains they've built are as resilient as they need to be. For consumers, it's a question of whether the products they buy reflect the values they hold. For manufacturers, it's a question of whether the investment in domestic production will be rewarded with the shelf space it deserves.

At FLI Products, we believe the answer to all three questions is yes — if we do the work of telling the story clearly, consistently, and with the data to back it up.

That's what this campaign is. That's what the next 40 days are about.

Built Here. Built Better.

Shop All Made in USA Products →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FLI Products?

FLI Products is an American retail product development company with 23+ years of experience commercializing innovative, American-made products. We partner with domestic inventors, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers to bring products to retail scale across major channels including Walmart, Amazon, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, and more.

What does "Made in USA" mean for FLI Products?

Every product in our America250 portfolio is designed, engineered, and manufactured in the United States. We partner exclusively with American manufacturers who meet our standards for quality, consistency, and retail readiness.

Who is Tom Whitaker?

Tom Whitaker is a retired manufacturing professional, hobby farmer, and grandfather who serves as a trusted voice and product advisor for FLI Products. With 40 years of practical experience, Tom evaluates and recommends American-made products that deliver real value for real families. Learn more at fliproducts.com/pages/learn-from-tom.

What is the Walmart Open Call program?

Walmart Open Call is an annual event where American suppliers pitch Made in USA products directly to Walmart buyers for potential shelf placement. It is one of the most significant retail opportunities for domestic manufacturers. Learn more at corporate.walmart.com.

Where can I buy FLI Products?

FLI Products are available at Walmart, Amazon, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, Target, Wayfair, Zoro, Best Buy, Wingra Direct, Newegg, the BBQ Superstore, West Marine, and directly at fliproducts.com.

What is the America250 campaign?

America250: Built Here. Built Better. is FLI Products' 40-day content campaign celebrating American manufacturing, domestic supply chain resilience, and the entrepreneurs and makers behind our Made in USA product portfolio — timed to America's 250th anniversary.