Here's a look at national consumer brands that are made in Northeast Ohio, or made by companies that are headquartered here:

Automobiles

• General Motors recently began a second shift at its factory in Lordstown, which makes the Chevrolet Cobalt and will begin building the Chevy Cruze compact next year.

The plant now employs more than 3,000 people.

• There are three Northeast Ohio Ford plants. According to the company's Web site, the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake employs 1,821 making the Ford Econoline, and the Cleveland Casting Plant in Brook Park employs 799 making cast iron components for engines.

Also, the Cleveland Engine Plant 2 employs 446 in Brook Park making V6 engines. The plant also makes the new EcoBoost 3.5L V6, a fuel-efficient engine that will be available in the 2010 Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex, and will be standard on the 2010 Ford Taurus.

Baby products

• Graco is a global baby brand and manufacturer of high chairs, baby monitors, swings and soothers, strollers, travel systems, car seats and portable playards.

A plant in Macedonia that employs about 250 assembles and distributes Graco car seats and high chairs for the U.S., Canadian and Latin American markets. A Graco spokesperson said ''a premium line of strollers and seats'' are distributed for the Teutonia brand and Macedonia is the site of a crash testing lab, too.

Graco products are sold at Babies 'R' Us, Target, Walmart, Baby Depot and specialty stores. More information is available at http://www.gracobaby.com.

Baskets

• Hand-crafted baskets are made at American Traditions Basket Co. in Canal Fulton, which employs 25 making about 100,000 items a year. Many American Traditions baskets are purchased for fundraisers by groups around the country, but individuals can buy the baskets — which retail for $25 to $75 — at the company Web site: http://www.americantraditionsbaskets.com.

Candles

• Root Candles employs about 200 at its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Medina. The company also owns a small plant in Texas.

Root decorative candles can be found at retail stores (from gift shops to grocery markets), as well as online at http://www.rootcandles.com.

The company introduced a new brand this year. Legacy by Root are all-natural beeswax candles.

Cards, party supplies

• American Greetings Corp., headquartered in Cleveland, owns greeting card brands American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus. The company also produces DesignWare party goods, and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift wrap and boxed cards.

The company creates and licenses popular character brands as well, and owns Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Holly Hobbie, Madballs and Popples as well as new licenses Sushi Pack, Maryoku Yummy and Twisted Whiskers.

Products can be found at retail stores nationwide, as well as the company's own American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores.

The Cleveland office alone employs nearly 2,200.

Containers

• Myers Industries in Akron makes a line of horticultural containers as well as plastic storage and organization products for home, crafts and office.

Popular products include Akro-Mils household storage containers, Akro-Mils Lawn & Garden planters and Listo decorative resin planters. Also, many local growers use the company's Dillen and ITML brand for their hanging baskets, potted plants and starter flats. Products are available at national retailers, garden centers and home improvement stores.

The company employs 950 in Ohio, including the Akron headquarters and production facilities in Wadsworth and Middlefield.

• Rubbermaid food and storage containers are made in Mogadore. Newell Rubbermaid employs some 800 people at the production facility, as well as 119 more at a distribution operation in Wooster. Rubbermaid products can be purchased at many retail locations.

Eye wear

• AlphaMicron motorcycle helmet visors and ski goggles, designed and made in Kent, use liquid crystal display technology to allow users to change tints with the tap of a button. The headgear is available through the company (http://www.alphamicron.com) as well as some specialty retailers.

The company, which employs 40, also makes auto-dimming rearview mirrors for cars and is close to introducing high-end sunglasses and a paintball mask with similar features.

Fishing supplies

• Reel Grip Ltd. in Wadsworth manufactures and sells the Reel Grip and Rod Grip rubber grips for fishing reels and rods, locally available at Gander Mountain and Dick's Sporting Goods, as well as Land Bigfish in Akron.

The company, which employs 20, also sells the items on its Web site at http://www.reelgrip.com.

Food

• J.M. Smucker Co. employs 1,231 at its Orrville plant, which produces Smucker's fruit spreads. The company owns many other recognizable brands, including Folgers, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, Jif, Crisco, Pillsbury, Eagle Brand, Hungry Jack, R.W. Knudsen Family, Knott's Berry Farm, White Lily and Martha White. In addition to selling at traditional grocery, club and drug stores, there is a brand showcase store in Orrville, and products are sold online at http://www.smuckers.com.

• There are several Frito-Lay plants in Ohio making snacks that are shipped regionally, but what qualifies the company for this list is the Frito-Lay factory in Canton 1/3 the nation's sole provider of the Rold Gold pretzel rod. The plant's 175 employees produce 34 million pounds of Rold Gold product annually, available at most food stores.

• Nestle Prepared Foods Co. has its national headquarters in Solon, as well as a manufacturing plant that makes Stouffers and Lean Cuisine frozen meals. The company also owns the Hot Pockets, Lean Pockets and Buitoni refrigerated pasta and sauces brands.

Also headquartered in Solon is the Nestle Baking Group, maker of Nestle Tollhouse ingredients, refrigerated cookie dough, Libby's 100 percent Pure Pumpkin, and Nestle Carnation milks.

Both headquarters and the production facility employ a total of 1,643 people.

• Pierre's Ice Cream brands, including ice cream, sorbet, Yovation Frozen Yogurt and Hola Fruta Pure Fruit Sherbet, are sold in most area grocery stores. The company sells its own brand in the Midwest and outside the country, and makes private-label brands sold throughout the United States.

The company employs 104, nearly all of them at the factory, distribution center and headquarters in Cleveland.

Garage doors/openers

• Wayne Dalton Corp. manufacturers wood, steel and fiberglass garage doors and openers for residential and commercial customers. Carter Lumber is among dealers selling its products. For a list of dealers in your area, visit http://www.wayne-dalton.com.

The company has a corporate office and two manufacturing facilities in Holmes County and two other production facilities in Wayne County and Ashtabula County, employing 800.

• Overhead Door Co. openers and accessories are made by a Genie Co. plant in Alliance. There are 119 employees in Holmes County and 155 in Alliance.

Genie's do-it-yourself products can be purchased at home improvement centers, including Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears, or at a Genie Pro Dealer or Overhead Door Ribbon distributor.

Headphones

• Audio-Technica noise-canceling headphones have beaten Bose products in some recent national reviews. The U.S. headquarters for the Japanese-owned company is in Stow, where about 100, including engineers and sales staff, are employed.

Audio-Technica products are sold at Apple stores, as well through online retailers Amazon.com, Buy.com, Electronics-Expo.com and J&R (http://www.jr.com.)

Household cleaners

• Malco Inc. makes several products in this category, including the Mr. Coffee coffee maker cleaner, Twinkle polish (for silver, brass and copper, or stainless steel), nuSOFT fabric softener and Zud heavy-duty cleanser.

In addition to its Barberton headquarters and plant, Malco has operations in Akron and Alliance and employs about 300.

The products can be found in grocery stores, hardware stores and drugstores, as well as at http://www.malcopro.com.

Lawn and garden

• MTD Products Inc., founded in 1932 in Cleveland, started as a tool and die supplier and grew into a global manufacturer of outdoor power equipment.

The company's brands include Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, White Outdoor, Yard-Man, Yard Machines, Bolens, Arnold and GardenWay. Their products can be found in home improvement stores, hardware stores, mass retailers, independent dealers and farm supply stores.

MTD employs about 6,000, many at its global headquarters in Medina County's Valley City, as well as production operations in Streetsboro and Willard.

• Look for any seed, fertilizer or specialty soil under the name Scotts or Miracle-Gro, available at home improvement stores and retail chains. The company, with headquarters in central Ohio, opened a manufacturing plant in Orrville this summer. It expects to create 63 jobs in three years.

• The Step2 Co. in Streetsboro makes mailboxes, as well as gardening products like kneelers and gardening seats. The products are available at major stores and online retailers. They can also be purchased through Step2's Web site, http://www.step2.com or at the company's store, 10010 Aurora-Hudson Road in Streetsboro.

The company employs 800 at three factories: in Streetsboro, Ashland County and Georgia.

Light bulbs

• TCP Inc., which employs more than 180 at its Aurora headquarters, research and testing facility, makes CFL-style energy-efficient light bulbs. Look for the EcoSmart brand at Home Depot, and the DuraBright brand in Sears and Kmart stores. DuraBright will also be sold at Save-a-Lot by the end of the year.

Novelty

• The Cat's Meow Village, a series of miniature building replicas, is designed and made by FJ Designs Inc. in Wooster.

The business, which began nearly 30 years ago in Wooster in the basement of entrepreneur Faline Jones, now employs 22.

Products include common themes such as Americana, Lighthouses, and Collegiate Licensed items as well as custom products of local landmarks. They are sold at gift retailers across the country, and at the The Cat's Meow MarketPlace and Mewseum at the Wooster factory, 2163 Great Trails Dr.

Paint supplies and sealants

• Strongsville is the U.S. headquarters of the paints division of AkzoNobel, a paint and coating companies based in the Netherlands.

Brands that support the Strongsville operation — which employs 700 — include Glidden and Ralph Lauren paint, Liquid Nails, and the environmentally friendly Freshaire Choice paint.

The products can be found at large retailers, independent paint stores, and at ICI Paints stores.

• RPM International Inc. in Brunswick Township makes specialty coatings and sealants under about 50 brand names. Popular products include RUST-OLEUM (rust prevention paint), Testors (enamel model paints), DAP (caulk), DIF (wallpaper stripper) and Zinsser (primer.)

Products are sold at national retailers, including hardware and home improvement stores. For a list of all of their products, visit http://www.rpminc.com/consumer.asp.

In addition to its world headquarters in Medina County, it owns manufacturing plants in Beachwood (Tremco Inc.) and Cleveland (DayGlo Color Corp.), employing a total of 851 in Northeast Ohio.

• Headquartered in Cleveland, Sherwin-Williams Co. makes and distributes several paint brands, including Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy, Krylon, Minwax and Thompson's Water Seal.

Sherwin-Williams brand paints are sold exclusively through some 3,300 company-operated stores. Other brands are sold through national chains, home centers and hardware stores.

The company, founded in 1866, employs about 3,000 in Northeast Ohio, including a research and development division in Cleveland and a manufacturing plant in Bedford.

• The 570 employees of the Wooster Brush Co. in Wooster make 2,300 products under 20 brand names, many available at hardware stores and paint retailers. Top consumer brands include the Shortcut flexible-handle brush and the No. 1 selling Super/Fab roller covers.

The company also makes many supplies under private labels for popular retailers. Look for the Wooster Brush Co. name on the packaging.

Pets

• Bil-Jac Foods makes premium dog food as well as dog and cat treats, sold around the country under the Bil-Jac name. The frozen food is available where other pet foods are sold, while the dry brand can be found at national pet stores.

Medina is home to the headquarters and the plant that manufactures the frozen variety of Bil-Jac products, employing about 60.

Shaving cream

• The maker of Barbasol (those candy-striped containers) and Pure Silk (a shaving product for women) is investing $7.25 million in a new plant in Ashland. Perio Inc., headquartered in the Columbus area, plans to open a 78,000-square-foot facility by April, employ 30 people, and whip up 24 million units of shaving cream a year.

Tires and wheels

• Goodyear is headquartered in Akron, and many of its 3,000 local employees are involved in research and development, as well as the making of race car tires. Goodyear tires are available at company-owned stores, independent outlets and well-known retail chains.

• Bridgestone is headquartered in Tennessee but has about 1,000 employees at its research and development facility in Akron. The local plant also makes race car tires. Bridgestone tires are available at company-owned stores, independent outlets and well-known retail chains.

• Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels designs, develops and markets racing and high-performance tires for drag-racing cars and motorcycles, modified street cars, off-road race vehicles, modified pickup trucks, Jeeps, 4x4s and sport utility vehicles. The company recently won a state award for increasing its exports.

The company, headquartered in Stow, employs 60 people. For product information and a list of local dealers, visit http://www.mickeythompsontires.com.

Toys and novelty

• Little Tikes, which employs 400 at its Hudson headquarters and factory, makes and sells toys and children's furniture.

The products are sold at major retailers (stores and online) and on the Little Tikes Web site, http://www.littletikes.com. Local customers can pick up their order at the Hudson location and save shipping charges.

Because some Little Tikes products are made overseas, the company is labeling U.S.-manufactured toys with a sticker.

• Step2 Co. makes toys for preschool and toddlers, including playhouses, riding toys and play furniture. Brands include Step2, Infantino and Thinkativity and target birth to school-age years.

The products are sold at major stores, online retailers and Step2's Web site (http://www.step2.com) and company store (10010 Aurora-Hudson Road in Streetsboro.)

• A long-time business-to-business company in Brunswick has introduced its first retail product: Football player lawn inflatables. Inflatable Images produces both collegiate and pro football players in their respective team uniforms, from 5- to 8-feet tall. For information on where to buy the inflatable mascots, visit http://www.inflatableimages.com.

Truck caps and covers

• A.R.E. employs 550 at its Massillon plant and headquarters, where it makes fiberglass truck caps and covers, as well as aluminum commercial work truck caps for anyone who owns a pickup truck.

Local retailers that sell A.R.E. truck caps and covers are R&S Truck Caps of Akron Inc. (2598 S. Main St., Coventry Township) and A Better Truck Cap & Hitch in Medina (1543 Medina Road).

Vacuum cleaners

• Hoover and Dirt Devil are owned and made by TTI Floor Care North America, which is headquartered in the Cleveland suburb of Glenwillow. The company recently released its new WindTunnel T-series of vacuums, with six models ranging from $99 to $159. They are available at major retailers across the country.

The company employs 344 in Glenwillow and 174 in North Canton.

Vehicles

• Myers Motors in Tallmadge has put about 45 of its hand-assembled, single-passenger, all-electric vehicles on the road. But investors this year gave the company funds to work on a 2-person prototype. The current single-passenger model, called NmG (No more Gas) sells for $30,000. Process efficiencies could have the 2-person vehicle selling for less.

The company employs about 10. For more information on the vehicle, visit http://www.myersmotors.com.