The myth of the "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 environmental impact. But after a few years, we feel legitimate enough to share our perspective on the subject.
""Made in China" means endorsing poor working conditions!"
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES
The good and the bad...
It is surely one of the first thoughts that comes to mind when we say "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, all Chinese production does not boil down to that. It's like still believing today that Parisians are always aloof, 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 relocated to China in the 20th century brought work and capital to local populations, which helped increase their purchasing power.
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES
This even allowed millions of citizens from the poorest rural areas to access a middle-class lifestyle: culture, education, transport, healthcare.
It is no coincidence that most textile brands are starting to relocate their Chinese production to India, Bangladesh or the Philippines. China is no longer the cheapest country.
Before COVID, we went there for every production run. We employ people there, so it is only natural that we know all the factories we work with.
"Products made in China are of lower quality"
LOW COST
The cult of "low cost"...
To sum up this French aversion to Chinese products, the most commonly cited argument is that of "low cost". Everyone has said it, and we ended up believing it: "Products 'made in China' are poor quality." Yes, that exists on Amazon, Wish and others, but once again your mobile phone also comes from China and it works perfectly, doesn't it?
For us, who have long worked alongside Chinese suppliers, we can confirm that yes, they know how to produce low-cost goods, but also quality ones. In fact, as everywhere, you always get what you pay for. When you treat your partners well, they return the favor.
In reality, what limits the quality of Chinese production is mainly the specifications set by brands that too often chase the lowest price.
"Manufacturing in China means killing French businesses"
DEEPER ISSUES
Really understanding the needs of businesses...
When French brands do not choose on their own to commit to producing in Europe in order to drastically reduce their ecological impact, they relocate to cut their manufacturing costs.
Ultimately, when these companies return to Europe, it is solely because cost differences have narrowed, and rarely out of patriotic duty.
You might say we don't create jobs in France, but that's not true either… True, we don't create jobs in production, but we do in our offices (sales - marketing - communications), and also in distribution by working with small businesses.
Do 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 ADVANTAGES
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"? Let's be real — how many of you chose our mounts because the price is far more competitive than our rivals'?
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 ADVANTAGES
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 just to assemble them there, and proudly claim 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 ADVANTAGES
Foreign? Aren't we all?
Because yes, we also need to consider that now, the majority of our products are sold abroad (outside of France). And some of those countries are more accessible from Asia and China than from France.
And for other European countries, for example, manufacturing in France or in China amounts to the same thing. The product is not made in their country. We're all foreigners somewhere.
In short, China has a lot of merit, and if the intellectual property, the employees, and the taxes are in France, we feel we are already contributing well enough at our level to the system.
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