2 weeks Ago By Kansas City Star
Travelers passing through Kansas City International Airport recently may have noted a political tinge to the wares on offer at the Made in Kansas City Marketplace. Reddit sure has. On Monday, a user there posted a photo of several Donald Trump-related pieces of apparel being sold at the shop, including a red MAGA hat and hoodies and T-shirts bearing the “Never Surrender.
” “Pretty disappointed is an understatement,” the user wrote. “Made in KC has been my go-to for family gifts.” The post quickly generated hundreds of comments.
But like a lot of political information that breezes into our fragmented and user-generated media landscape circa 2024, it did not tell the full story. For one thing, a subsequent post from a different user revealed that the Trump merch was laid out next to a Kamala Harris 2024 hat and a sweatshirt bearing the Harris slogan “When We Fight, We Win.” But even that level of political engagement is beyond what the local chain wants to be involved with, Made in KC owner Tyler Enders told The Star.
“We did not approve this,” Enders said. “It’s extremely disappointing to see these products in a shop with our name on it. We’ve never carried election merch in any of our stores.
” How’d it happen, then? At KCI and most airports, the restaurants and shops merely license their names to the airport. The businesses are run by a management company hired by the airport. Made in KC, Enders said, partners with a firm called WH Smith to run its airport shop.
WH Smith then partners with Vantage Group, which is the developer and manager of record for KCI’s concession and dining program. Vantage Group did not respond to a request for comment. Made in KC does have some say in what is sold at the shop, though.
“We do not approve all products that are brought into the airport, but we do get to suggest local brands for the airport to carry,” Enders said. In this case, Enders said, he was not sure if Vantage or WH Smith was responsible for purchasing the political inventory. “I have no idea how many people signed off on this, but suffice it to say that the products have now been removed and we are re-reading our agreement so that this never happens again,” Enders said.
That includes both the Trump and the Harris merch, he added. Founded in 2015, Made in KC operates 10 shops in the Kansas City area that sell locally made clothes, gifts and more..
