Supporting British Industry

[Pampera]

Well, that's what I thought I was doing when I bought my wife a pair of Hunters boots for Xmas.

Turns out they are made in China now.


There's one thing we are good at exporting...our jobs!

 

[perfect11s]

Well, that's what I thought I was doing when I bought my wife a pair of Hunters boots for Xmas.

Turns out they are made in China now.


There's one thing we are good at exporting...our jobs!

Yep we will be a 3rd world country soon if we dont make stuff and just sell each other imported tat.. These companys that have stuff made overseas dont realise 1 that people feel good about buying a quality british made item and 2 every factory that shuts here means less people with a decent wage to buy branded quality goods who instead buy from matalan, primark or knock off copys...

 

[chestnut cob]

I am currently boycotting Twinings after hearing on C4 Dispatches this week that they have closed one of their UK factories and opened a new one in Poland...after taking a £10m grant from the EU for it. I doubt my one minor "protest" will make any difference but it makes me feel better.

 

[Alec Swan]

I am currently boycotting Twinings after hearing on C4 Dispatches this week that they have closed one of their UK factories and opened a new one in Poland...after taking a £10m grant from the EU for it. I doubt my one minor "protest" will make any difference but it makes me feel better.

It was inevitable that with the expansion of the EU, to include those countries with a poorer standard of living than we have enjoyed, that there would be a degree of levelling.

We demand ever cheaper food and our daily "disposables", and the result is that with massive savings to be had, by sourcing labour requirements from the less than privileged, that we will watch as their standard of living will rise, and ours will fall.

I suspect, that in time, and when those who are currently, less than privileged have the whip hand, then it will not be economically viable for us to kick start our own abilities, and once again supply much of our own needs. The problem will come, I think, when we have to ask for help to fund our start up. I'm not certain of my facts, but assuming that I'm right, then I would worry for the future of my grand children.

Sadly, I think that protecting British Industry, will be a complete waste of time.

Alec.

 

[Paddydou]

I am currently boycotting Twinings after hearing on C4 Dispatches this week that they have closed one of their UK factories and opened a new one in Poland...after taking a £10m grant from the EU for it. I doubt my one minor "protest" will make any difference but it makes me feel better.

Most of the workers they made redundant were Polish...

Totters off whistling as the new row starts.

It is getting harder to find products made in the UK but then its really hard to get UK workers to make those products as they all want mega bucks. Aparently £10ph is a crappy wage for a factory worker...

Continues whistling...

I am boy cotting Lush after they started giving money to LACS. Its playing havoc with my skin but detetermination determination determination!

 

[chestnut cob]

Most of the workers they made redundant were Polish...

Totters off whistling as the new row starts.

I don't understand why that would cause a row?

It doesn't really matter whether the workers were Polish or British, it isn't just about the workers. The point is that while they were working in a British factory, they were paying taxes into the British system which supports our country. I am sure the Polish workers send money home but they will also at some point be spending some of it locally, supporting more British industry and jobs. Moving this factory abroad stops all of the UK tax revenue from those workers, be they British or Polish.

There is also the knock on effect on other industries - for example, whoever supplies Twinings with their packaging will likely be making less money since they will be selling less (presumably Twinings will source this from Poland rather than from UK based packaging companies?). When a factory closes, it doesn't matter where the workers are from. The fact is that people lose their jobs and it has an effect on their families, the supply chain and local industry.

 

[firm]

"We demand ever cheaper food and our daily "disposables"
See I don't think that is the true picture. It is the reason given by companies and supermarkets, along with the "consumers want fruits & veg a certain shape & for it to last longer " etc etc In reality these companies want to make more profit and that is why they move to reduce their costs. That is why they squeeze their suppliers and is why Tesco's for example makes £6000 profit per second and continues to make massive profits during the recession.
Did you know about the recent damaging bananas price wars in your name and the fact UK buyers are regarded as the most aggressive in the world? This is not for the benefit of the customer - that is for the benefit of the company.
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/Articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=212717

 

[firm]

Sorry should be £6000/minute.

OP I didn't know Hunter wellies were made in China and I do try & buy British when I can. I have had so many sizing and quality issues with headcollars, lead ropes & brass chains/fitments that come from China that I try & buy only better quality made in the UK but they are hard to find.

 

[Pampera]

The boots were more expensive than they were when they were made in Britain!

Dr Martens moved production to China some years ago, too, and I have not bought a pair since.

I would have no objection to buying stuff made in China if it was branded as such and priced accordingly. It's when stuff made in China is branded as British and priced at a premium that I get angry.

 

[perfect11s]

Most of the workers they made redundant were Polish...

Totters off whistling as the new row starts.

It is getting harder to find products made in the UK but then its really hard to get UK workers to make those products as they all want mega bucks. Aparently £10ph is a crappy wage for a factory worker...

Continues whistling...

I am boy cotting Lush after they started giving money to LACS. Its playing havoc with my skin but detetermination determination determination!

sadlly house prices and other costs of living mean that £10 per hour isnt that high... why should manual workers work for nothing while potty goverment penpushers and alsorts of teachers nurses police ect expect a good salary and a early retirement with a gold plated pension just for providing a service and not creating one penny for the economy... its about time wages and salarys were more equitable because we canot live by taking each others washing in... we have to generate wealth by making something to sell abroad maybe its a pair of hunter wellys ,even services like insurance or musical talent... export or the economy will die.......... simple....

 

[cabby]

I have just bought myself a new wallet on appleby parva which is a website which only sells stuff that has been made in Britain. It is all top notch from traditional factories - leather from Birmingham etc. Really easy to use website and each item has the heritage story so you really know where you are buying from. It arrived in 2 days as well. Serious thumbs up! www.applebyparva.com

 

[Faithkat]

I have just bought myself a new wallet on appleby parva which is a website which only sells stuff that has been made in Britain. It is all top notch from traditional factories - leather from Birmingham etc. Really easy to use website and each item has the heritage story so you really know where you are buying from. It arrived in 2 days as well. Serious thumbs up! www.applebyparva.com

Sadly, they are staggeringly expensive though (to be fair the site does proclaim "luxury goods") so beyond the purse of an awful lot of people, I would have thought. I'm afraid £22 for a perfumed candle is somewhat steep!