Changing to Buy British and European

nanna8

I used to love the British pottery and Sheffield stainless steel was really good. I still look out for British made things in the op shops. Still a few books around. I collect horsebrasses when I see them, too. The things from the UK are always well made.

I need new mugs and would always have bought British (Potteries preferably) made china and pottery.

However, at a cost of at least £20 per mug, I have to buy a set of everyday mugs made overseas and hope someone will treat me to a special china British-made mug (or two) for a birthday.

Shadowdancer

I bought a Tower airfryer believing that it would be British made only to find the inner box on the packaging was printed with The People's Repulic of China.
I have recently bought some Woolovers Jumpers which are made in the UK and have also read Patrick Grant's book.

Woolovers jumpers are made in China.

Their HQ is in the UK.

Try the Denby sale for mugs Allira, they usually have lots half price then and the bonus is they last forever, I’ve still got some that I had when I was first married, they have been through the dishwasher hundreds of times and still look great.

Ditto

Simon Dee did it back in the 60s. I'm backing Britain was the slogan. Not sure if it achieved what he wanted as I can't remember how I ended.

RosieandherMaw

petra

We have bought a British made washing machine. An Ebac.

I thought that was an academic qualification! 🤣🤣

It does sound a bit like that, doesn’t it 😂

Casdon

Try the Denby sale for mugs Allira, they usually have lots half price then and the bonus is they last forever, I’ve still got some that I had when I was first married, they have been through the dishwasher hundreds of times and still look great.

Yes, I have got about four Denby mugs but I do like a fine china mug for tea

It's my aristocratic background

A lot of items may show "made in EU, UK" but a lot of the components in the items will likely have been produced elsewhere eg China, India especially so in electrical/electronics goods.

fancythat

Not sure I agree with the principle, but I had reason to look at the labels of most of my clothes in my wardrobe recently.
I only found one item that was British made. I nearly jumped back in surprise when I read the label.
Cant remember which item it was now.

Why would you not support the principle 🤷‍♀️
Why not support British manufacturing?

Henry Hoovers are made in Somerset.

petra

fancythat

Not sure I agree with the principle, but I had reason to look at the labels of most of my clothes in my wardrobe recently.
I only found one item that was British made. I nearly jumped back in surprise when I read the label.
Cant remember which item it was now.

Why would you not support the principle 🤷‍♀️
Why not support British manufacturing?

The principle of changing to "Buy British ^and European^"
You left out the 2nd bit.

Do you mean that if you can’t get what you want made in Britain you would prefer to buy it from China or wherever rather than buy it from Europe fancythat? I think we need Europe to be strong myself, and it’s often good quality too, so I’d always prefer to buy European rather than from further afield.

"I'm backing Britain" in the 60's - there was a jingle, my mum used to sing it ad nauseam in the car.
It didn't work. That was in response to "made in Hong Kong" "made in Taiwan" suddenly appearing on labels (specially plastics) in the early 60's.
Given the size of Hong Kong & the ubiquiety of the label, I suspect those things were actually even then made in China, via Hong Kong.

Casdon

Do you mean that if you can’t get what you want made in Britain you would prefer to buy it from China or wherever rather than buy it from Europe fancythat? I think we need Europe to be strong myself, and it’s often good quality too, so I’d always prefer to buy European rather than from further afield.

I mean I have never been a big fan of the EU.
It has it;s plusses for me, but a lot of minuses.
So does the US of course. But [shrug].

I have new kitchen appliances (as yet untested!) made in Germany.

Even being British made, seems so 1970s.
If it had worked, then great.

But British workers always demanded so much.
And they still do.
And now so many people favour net zero.
Which is so costly.
I go back to bat tunnel.
If the Uk favour bat tunnels over so much else, then all the buy British, makes it all feel a bit pointless.

I can hardly believe I am writing this.
I would certainly not have done in the 70s.

Bat tunnels have nothing to do with it in my mind. We need to become more self reliant, less at the whim of worldwide markets and politics, and to keep Europe strong. I just think if we can’t support ourselves and our neighbours more, we will have nothing. I don’t buy into the ‘it’s all so hopeless so why bother’ mantra, and I really hope most others don’t either.

Kenwood-another brand designed in Britain, but made in China.
The first Moulinex product I bought was made in thanks. Now most of their stuff is made in China.
And Philips products were designed and made in the Netherlands when we first bought them, but not all are any more.
It’s well worth checking, and if you have time can be quite rewarding.

On holiday in both New Zealand and Alaska, I found it was very difficult to buy souvenirs made locally. Most items might have been designed in the country but made in China. In Anchorage I found a shop called The Tiny Shop, next to a supermarket filled with often tacky Chinese goods. The gifts in the Tiny Shop. were all made in Alaska . That shop is where I bought all my gifts and souvenirs. I don’t do much shopping but try to buy British , European or commonwealth products.

fancythat

Casdon

Do you mean that if you can’t get what you want made in Britain you would prefer to buy it from China or wherever rather than buy it from Europe fancythat? I think we need Europe to be strong myself, and it’s often good quality too, so I’d always prefer to buy European rather than from further afield.

I mean I have never been a big fan of the EU.
It has it;s plusses for me, but a lot of minuses.
So does the US of course. But [shrug].

I mean I have never been a big fan of the EU.

But the EU is an institution, the US is a nation.

It has it;s plusses for me, but a lot of minuses.

Any specific country within the EU? Or all they all condemned because they're part of it?

Casdon

Bat tunnels have nothing to do with it in my mind. We need to become more self reliant, less at the whim of worldwide markets and politics, and to keep Europe strong. I just think if we can’t support ourselves and our neighbours more, we will have nothing. I don’t buy into the ‘it’s all so hopeless so why bother’ mantra, and I really hope most others don’t either.

But why havent we all being doing that all along?

And 2nd question - if not you, then others laugh at Maga.

. I don’t do much shopping but try to buy British , European or commonwealth products.

Since when?

But the EU is an institution, the US is a nation.

What has that got to do with anything?
Makes it all much worse in my opinion.

It is not the individual nations I have a problem with.
It is the EU.
If I had been old enough to vote in 1973 or whenever it was, I would have voted No.
Not sure I have ever thought anything differently to that.
There may have been a brief 6 months somewhere. Cant quite remember.

Bat tunnels have nothing to do with it in my mind

Tunnels hugely do to me.