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INDEPENDENT SURVEY


Follow us @toyshopuk Does Made in Britain matter?


Is being able to say a product is made on these shores a strong selling point for indie retailers? Or are consumers ultimately just looking for value for money? ToyShopUK asks its listers


CALM AND


BRITISH “ 20 June


Lisa Clay Armadillo Toys “It is a great selling point if we can say an item is made in the UK, but unfortunately we only have a couple of UK brands that manufacture in the UK. Orchard Toys is our best selling UK brand.”


Raquel Bello Carddies “We set out, from the beginning, for the Carddies to be a British made product. We felt it was the right thing to do because we were setting our little business up in the middle of a UK recession, and we considered it would poor- spirited to do otherwise. This meant we had to work extremely hard to fi nd a cost eff ective way of manufacturing the Carddies so as to make it a viable product. We collated quotes from hundreds of suppliers,


opting for small family owned businesses such as ours. Of course, most people told us we were loopy when we set out to make this a British product, and that we should take the easy route of having them made abroad. We have had wonderful support primarily from independent toy, gift and book shops and online retailers, and also lovely museums and places of interest, many of whom make a point of supporting home-grown businesses. However, we do wonder if more big British retailers could apply their considerable buying power to support British businesses.”


Paul Brown Cloud 9 “More important with the older generation.”


Marc Shone Gatwick Diecast “Whilst it would be nice to buy British, unfortunately products made in the UK tend to have a higher price tag for which many customers won’t pay. It would be nice now and again to display ‘Made in the UK’.”


Amanda Alexander Giddy Goat Toys “It’s good to have at least something I can off er that’s made in Britain - thank you Orchard Toys. We do get the occasional customer who feels strongly they want something made in the UK as they are either a tourist here or wanting to send a gift abroad and want something British. Or sometimes I get customers who want something British as they feel it will be better quality or more environmentally friendly than something


made in the Far East. Most customers don’t ask where toys are made but I am glad we have at least some lines we can off er that are British.”


Stuart Andrew Hal Whittaker “Price rules in today’s society - people who wish to buy British are very few and far between. If something is well made and the price is right then where it comes from isn’t of any concern whatsoever to the majority.”


Charlotte Croser Jollys


“British made products are a ‘nice to have’ and we promote to customers the ranges which are made here. Orchard Toys is a favourite of our customers. The majority of other stock has been made in Germany or in


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