The myth of "Made in China"

We're going to be 100% honest with you — just like everyone before launching Shapeheart, we were cautious about manufacturing in China. Particularly regarding quality, working conditions, and the environmental cost. But after a few years, we feel legitimate enough to give you our point of view on the subject.

    ""Made in China" means endorsing poor working conditions!"

    UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES

    The good and the bad...

    This is surely one of the first thoughts that comes to mind when someone says "made in China". And even more so since the discovery of the Uyghur camps.
    However, even if this example (and others) is terrible and condemnable, not all Chinese production boils down to that. It's as if we still believed today that Parisians are always grumpy, all Americans are obese, and Spaniards are always napping… It exists, but that's not all there is to it, thankfully.
    The country's strong growth has led to an increasingly skilled workforce and therefore a rise in its cost. The brands that had offshored to China in the 20th century brought work and capital to the population, which helped raise their purchasing power. 

    UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES

    It has even allowed millions of citizens from the poorest rural areas to access the middle-class lifestyle: culture, education, transport, healthcare.
    It's no coincidence, by the way, that most textile brands are beginning to relocate their Chinese production to India, Bangladesh or the Philippines. China is no longer the cheapest country.

    Until before Covid, we went there with every production run. We employ people there, so it's only natural that we know all the factories we work with.

    "Products made in China are of lower quality"

    THE LOW COST

    The cult of "low cost"...

    To sum up this French disenchantment with Chinese products, the most frequently made argument is that of "low cost". Everyone has said it, and we've come to believe it: "Products 'made in China' are poor quality". Yes, that exists on Amazon, Wish and others, but then again your mobile phone also comes from China and it works perfectly fine, doesn't it?

    For us, who have been working closely with Chinese suppliers for a long time, we can assure you that yes, they know how to do low cost but also quality. In fact, like everywhere, they always give you value for your money. When you treat your partners well, they return the favour.
    In reality, what limits the quality of Chinese production is mainly the specifications set by brands that too often chase the lowest price.

    "Producing in China is killing French business"

    DEEPER ISSUES

    Truly understanding business needs...

    When French brands don't choose on their own to commit to producing in Europe in order to drastically reduce their environmental impact, they offshore to reduce their manufacturing costs.

    Ultimately, when these companies come back to Europe, it's solely because the cost differences have narrowed, and rarely out of patriotic duty.

    You're going to tell us that we don't create jobs in France, but that's not true either… Sure, we don't create jobs in production, but we do create them in our offices (sales - marketing - communications), and also in distribution by working with small local businesses.
    Would you prefer a company that sells made in France online or a company that produces abroad but supports local businesses?

    The reality… More attractive prices

    THE BENEFITS

    Better prices for us... And for you!

    Honestly, would you be willing to pay twice as much for your magnetic phone mount simply because it's "Made In France"? Think about it — how many of you chose our mounts because the price is much more attractive than our competitors'?

    Thanks to our Chinese production, in addition to being sold at an affordable price for everyone, the product maintains a quality comparable to or even better than other mounts on the market.  

    "Not playing the fake "Made in France" card"

    THE BENEFITS

    Being honest with you...

    Sure, we could have done what other French companies do. That is, import all the parts for our products, rent a warehouse in France simply to do the assembly in the country and proudly claim that our products are "Made in France" by plastering Blue-White-Red flags all over the packaging. But honestly, isn't that just taking people for fools?

    We prefer to play the transparency card.

    "And what about our international customers?"

    THE BENEFITS

    Foreign? Aren't we all?

    Because yes, we also have to consider that now, the majority of our products are sold abroad (outside of France). And some of those countries are more easily reached from Asia and China than from France.
    And for other European countries, for example, producing in France or in China amounts to the same thing. The product isn't made in their country. We're all foreign somewhere.

    In short, China has a lot of assets, and if behind it all the intellectual property, the employees, and the taxes are in France, we feel that we already contribute quite well to the system at our scale.

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