Best of British

[emmie]

or not, as they case may be. Having a wander around the shops i popped into one large department store. In the home wares department i came across all these items presumably for the Queens Diamond Jubilee. I picked up an enamel mug, which brings back some memories, and smiled at the logo, Keep Calm and Carry On, which seems to be everywhere. However on looking at the bottom of the mug, it had made in China. Would it not be beyond the wit of some to actually make these mementoes, and paraphernalia here in Britain, or don't we make anything any more.

[jno]

we do make things, but not as cheaply as the Chinese do.

http://www.distinctlybritish.com/

[boxtops]

Some of the traditional British china, e.g. Wedgwood and Royal Doulton, is now made overseas.

[emmie]

almost everything you pick up is made in China, it may be cheaper, but doesn't make it better. I find this irritating, that even things like these souvenirs are made there. Why can't British companies be given contracts to make these goods. It's not as though they cost the earth. And by the way the enamel mug was 8 quid, so i wouldn't call that cheap.

[tonyav]

£8 here, but probably less tha 50p to produce.

[mike11111]

I saw a jubilee dish this morning with a photo of the Queen. Unfortunately the logo read H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II instead of H.M. I didn't check its provenance but assume it was made overseas.

[jno]

well, I've given you a link to British goods if you want to buy some. Up to you to decide whether any given product is better or not.

[emmie]

not sure how you get from 50p to 8 quid here, someone is making a lot of dosh

[boxtops]

50p to make in China, then you have the cost of transport etc., then the profit = £8. Peasy.

[jno]

packing, shipping, paying shop assistants to serve you and the shop's council tax. Just the usual stuff.

[emmie]

this is not about mementoes, but about what is made here or more importantly overseas in places like India, China. And many in China do not earn a pittance in their factories, not any more. The idea of very cheap labour is going fast.

[jno]

huge population still means they have an edge in mass production.

Minimum wage in Britain about $1400 (US) a month, I think.

Minimum wage in Shanghai about $200, but in other areas it's less than $100.

I don't know if that's a pittance but it's much less than you'd get here.

http://en.wikipedia.o...es_in_China_%28PRC%29

[EvianBaby]

If I had the choice of paying £8 for a mug made in china and say £15 for the same mug made in the UK, I know which one I'd pick.

[jno]

you might pay more for the sentimental value of having a British-made souvenir of a British celebration... or you might not. It'd probably hold just as much tea.

[emmie]

Evian, which would it be.

[emmie]

That is the trouble, people won't pay for British goods, and then wonder why we have no manufacturing any more. Or should one say not as we used to.

[tenrec]

jno - all the tea in China?

[emmie]

Then we shouldn't complain at all when companies buy out British Brands, and move the operations overseas, and find our work force redundant. I would love to buy British goods, finding them is getting harder and harder.

[Tilly2]

Do you remember the campaign 'Buy British' When was that? 70's 80's? Who orchestrated it?

I'm from the Potteries and will NOT buy foreign china/earthenware/crockery. We do still make some.

[tonyav]

The 70's Tilly.

[emmie]

I have tried believe me, but much of our goods are made in China, and that isn't going to change any day soon, more's the pity