Cheap Price - Who Pays?

Written by Carol Jones
Director, Interface Pty Ltd
Designers and Makers Since 1994

Have you ever wanted to really buy something, but you held back? It was just what you wanted, but cost more than anything else like it. How do you know if it’s good? Especially if you don’t know someone who has it.

It’s easy to talk yourself out of something because you don’t know enough about the product. And it’s usually because of the price. There’s risk in buying something that costs more.

How many times have you been shopping with someone, been on the verge of buying something of quality, only to have them look at the price and say to you, “Nooo! You can get something much cheaper at the discount stores like Go Lo, Kool Discounts, Big W, Target or K-Mart.

Have you noticed they never say you can get something better at these stores? Only cheaper. Why is cheaper more desirable than better? Why do you want to take something home and then throw it away after a few weeks because it’s worn out, broken, or never worked in the first place?

Look at the majority of ads on Australian TV, radio and in the press. What’s the main message? Cheapest price. When’s the last time you heard or saw an ad that shouted quality, durability, pleasure to use, the best you can buy, great service? And how many times have you heard your friends, relatives and co-workers lamenting how things don’t last any more?

Your retail world in Australia is dominated by two giants. Coles and Woolworths. And they share similar attitudes.

In mid 2005, an article in the Sydney Morning Herald quotes Coles as saying customers have to realise they don’t run their stores to give you choice, but to make maximum profits.

How?

The enormous buying power of Woolworths and Coles dictates what they want to stock and how much they pay for each item. If a manufacturer doesn’t want to supply at their price, Coles and Woolworths go to third world countries like China, Taiwan, Thailand and India, which eagerly supply at super low prices.

The Australian manufacturers see their revenues eroding by only supplying small shops, and guess what? They go to China, Taiwan, Thailand and India to make the products the behemoth retailers want, for the low price they insist on paying. Factories close here and open up over there.

Even the boutique retailer now finds it has no option but to also buy products made in China, India, Taiwan and Thailand. They no longer have a choice.

Just ask Dick Smith how this affects his ‘Made In Australia’ food label. His revenues have dropped by 50% in the last 12 months because he can no longer find enough ingredients made in Australia to supply his brand. Fruit orchards Australia wide are pushing their trees over because they can’t sell their fruit cheaply enough to satisfy the quest for supreme profits above quality and taste.

And what’s the life of a Chinese factory worker like?

The hype in the press makes it sound terrific. A penniless villager goes to the big city, finds work, rises up to the middle classes and lives happily ever after. A great rags to riches story.

If only!!

The average Chinese factory worker lives a life in fear of their bosses. In working conditions not tolerated in Australia. Yes, these factories are less than 10 years old. But the physical and emotional conditions of the workers are oppressive and cruel.

SBS Television screened a documentary called ‘A Decent Factory’ in April 2006. Nokia took us on a tour through their factory in China so you could see their better than average working conditions.

What you saw was a burly factory manager, rubbing his hands together, leering, smirking and generally bored by Nokia’s requests for information and resentment at their intrusion into the factory’s working day.

95% of the workers are young girls from the villages, under the age of 19. The factory provides their clothing and accommodation, which each girl pays for. It’s automatically deducted from her wages.

Home is a small room of bunk beds which houses at least 8 girls and looks just like a backpackers’ hostel room. They eat on their beds and share one toilet. Their work uniform is a blue blouse and slacks.

Nokia is told working conditions are 8 hours per day and award wages are paid. Closer examination reveals these girls are actually paid only 50% of the award wage and a 12 hour work day is the norm.

Explanations for less pay? If a girl is 15 minutes late, she’s docked a half day’s pay. She’s not paid if she’s sick, needs time off, or if a machine’s down.

The extra 4 hours a day worked? It’s to make up for the time machines are down. But Nokia discovers the modern machinery rarely breaks down.

The factory can’t satisfactorily explain why the girls work 12 hours a day and why their pay is 50% below awards. But the factory manager will look into it!

Every girl needs permission for a toilet break, isn’t allowed to talk to her workmates and is under constant scrutiny by a free roaming factory hand.

Permission for Nokia to talk to workers one-on-one was denied, but eventually granted. The factory manager hand picks the girls allowed to speak.

Nokia has to convince the girls there will be no retribution from management for telling the truth. They then tell of management’s bullying and verbal abuse if they make a mistake and of their tightly controlled, bleak working conditions.

One image captures it all. It’s the girls hunched over their machines, looking neither left nor right, with an anxious, tense look on every face, working in complete silence. The roaming factory hand is ever present, watching every movement. And this is a decent factory!

These inexcusable working conditions are the reasons you can buy cheap goods. The only rags to riches story here is the factory owner who underpays and overworks his girls.

Will you work in these conditions? Not likely!

You love working in a company that’s warm, caring and friendly because it brings out the best in you.

We chose just such a company to make all our products. And it’s a home away from home for their workers. Because the men and women who make our products are very special. They all have a disability and make everything with love and care.

Their work environment is benchmark status. They receive one-on-one training. And a social worker and nurse are there for those times when they need a shoulder for support or a mishap requires attention.

They’re paid above award wages and if they make a mistake, they’re shown again how to do the job correctly. With kindness and consideration.

Smiles and good humour abound. Exercise breaks twice a day stretch their muscles and relieve fatigue.

Their able bodied co-workers are chosen with care. They must be compassionate, thoughtful, tolerant and patient. They also undertake special training on an ongoing basis for working with and understanding the special needs of a person with a disability.

These men and women have been sewing for us since 1994 at Wangarang Industries in Orange NSW.

We want that same feeling when offering our products as in making them. So we use direct marketing. That way we can answer your questions, develop a personal relationship with you, let you know it’s a privilege to have you as our customer and say thank you for supporting us. And direct marketing lets us inform you how our product is different and why you’ll love it.

And The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is different. Such a simple solution to a very irritating problem, designed by an architect for his mum, has changed forever the way 75,000 people around the world feel about ironing.

Yes, it costs more, but with it’s long life, ends up cheaper than your cover made in China.

You’ll love it because it never wrinkles, creases or moves on your board. Just think of thousands of hours of trouble free ironing. That’s what the tension cord system does for you.

You can see in the photo how easy the tension cord is to secure. You only need to criss cross it over four hooks. No lacing, no tying of cords. And your board always folds up and down with ease.

Plus size isn’t an issue. One size fits all the popular boards made in the last 60 years. We also have Extra Small and Extra Large for those special boards.

The tough, 100% cotton drill should last you an average of 3 years. My cover is 6 years old. A February 2006 trade in was 10 years old.

Averaged over 3 years, the cover is a tiny $13 a year for trouble free ironing. 75,000 people around the world think it’s worth it. So will you!

This cover is so jam packed with advantages and quality features,
we give you 4 guarantees.

●12 months replacement for wear and tear on the fabric
●Lifetime guarantee for the tension cord system which gives you your perfect fit
●Total colourfastness guarantee
●No questions asked 100% money back, including postage, if you’re not happy.

We take the risk, not you!

Made in rural Australia with love and care by men and women who have a disability and really enjoy what they do. $13 a year for thousands of hours of trouble free ironing. Plus it changes your attitude to ironing forever because it’s such a joy to use. What’s there to think about? Try it now! Risk free!

Peter, a NSW Town Planner, says it best.

"Carol. If anything can make ironing bliss, your cover does. We all want to transform the world. In a small way, you have. Thanks for that. Peter "

To find out more, visit our website at http://www.interfaceaustralia.com. Then let's meet again. Online or offline.

Take care,

CAROL

Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd