Contract Manufacturing (Shoes) in China, how?

[Blurock]

My first impulse to this thread was 'The Unions forced the retailers to use cheaper imported products'
But on reflection, it seems the retailers are chasing one another to buy and import cheaper and cheaper crap and then try to skin us by selling it as if it is the same as the quality stuff they used to supply. That is starting to backfire and backlash.

Although the unions are militant and obstructive, they are not the ones to blame. I have first hand experience of a retailer announcing that they buy up to 80% from local suppliers, but they sent their buyer(s) to China to accompany the importer so that they could do their own selections.(and I know this was general practice amongst the others as well).

If we analyse the increase in profits made by the major chains in the past 8-10 years, the only conclusion we can reach is that they have not passed the profit from cheap imports on to the consumer or their staff, but paid it out to managers and directors.

In the process of enriching themselves, they have ruined an entire industry and have caused hardship and social problems to hundreds of thousands of our people. This why am am so much opposed to cheap imports at all cost.

Are you happy with your chap imported shirt that fades after the first wash? Are you happy to pay more taxes to support social programs for the jobless? Not all imports are wrong, as we can not compete on all fronts. If you have to import, at least be responsible and think of the consequences of your actions. Put South Africa and its people first, not your greed.