Why Buy British-made?

There are plenty of good reasons…

We have been running a series on social media about the reasons we believe it’s good to buy British-made products.

We’re not in any way suggesting that every purchase you ever make should be British-made. We just feel that it’s worth considering the merits whenever you’re making purchase decisions.

So, here we go – this is the series as it appeared over the past couple of months…

Quality

Quality is by definition subjective – a measure of how good something is compared to other similar things.

There are some more specific measures in manufacturing. Most manufacturers in the UK have a minimum of an ISO 9001 accreditation or are working in-line with the BS EN 1090 manufacturing standard. The ISO 9001 certification is achieved by demonstrating a commitment to a quality management system.

This quality management system ensures that the origin of the products being produced is fully traceable, manufacturing standards are in place and quality checks are being carried out; ultimately allowing the customer to be confident in the end result.

For smaller businesses, especially “micro businesses” with individual handmade products, they will not be accredited. However the vast majority of these, including those on Buy Britain, take great care and pride in their work; using high quality materials of which a large and growing proportion is ethically sourced.

For them, it’s “personal” as their individual livelihoods depend on making products that customers value.

Overlying this is consumer protection, with legislation mandating that products sold online can be returned if not up to scratch. Which means it is in the seller’s interests to make products that are fit for purpose and as described.

There’s an old saying – “Buy Cheap, Buy Twice!” If you #BuyBritishMade you may pay a little bit more, but you are also likely to get more out of it.

What do you think?

#quality #qualityproducts #handmade #handcrafted #qualitystandards #qualitycontrol #isostandards

Craftsmanship

“Craftsmanship” is the skill that someone uses when they make beautiful things with their hands.

We’ve been handcrafting in Britain since the Stone Age when, alongside weapons for hunting, the first forms of handmade “jewellery” emerged.

This was followed by the Bronze and Iron ages where handcrafting became more and more refined – and more and more useful.

Back then, everything was made by hand – tools, farming equipment, cooking equipment, weapons, clothing, and so on, plus of course the homes they lived in!

The Romans took it up several notches when they invaded and the rest, as they say, is history.

Until, that is, the Industrial Revolution.

That drove a horse & coaches through the world of handmade as automation drove productivity gains, transforming the landscape forever.

But, although severely diminished, the centuries old skills were kept going and passed down the generations.

Today, handcrafting is making a comeback, with discerning buyers looking for quality items that are not mass produced.

And our long history of hand crafting shows in the quality of the craftsmanship found in products as diverse as silver earrings, cushions, dog collars, leather bags, artisan chocolates, copper pendant lighting and oak furniture to name but a few.

In summary, British-made and Craftsmanship are synonymous – it’s in our DNA!

#craftsmanship #craft #crafts #crafting #handmade #handcrafted #handcrafting #quality #madewithlove #madetolast

Working Standards

We’ve all seen reports of the terrible working conditions and child labour in some 3rd World countries, where much of our cheap imports come from.

Some of the biggest brands have been guilty of perpetuating the problem, though thankfully many are now taking action to improve.

That said, the likes of Amazon and eBay are flooded with low-cost products where the provenance, and therefore the working conditions, are unclear.

If this is something that bothers you, then buying British-made products is the answer. They won’t necessarily be the cheapest, but you’ll know that the people making them at the very least:

– are adults

– have a variety of legally binding rights

– work in decent conditions

Of course, many employers in the UK go well beyond the minimum requirements, and their employees take great pride in what they make.

Then there are all the small family & friends businesses and crafters. Most have a personal passion for whatever products they are now making for others. Some have grown to be employers in their own right; many have chosen to stay small and make from the comfort of their own homes.

We have the full spectrum on Buy Britain – from long established businesses to mumtrepreneurs. All share a commitment to doing things well and doing things right!

So if you want to be confident when shopping online, that all the products are made in Britain, under good working conditions, by people that care…

#workersrights #workingconditions #workingstandards #madewithcare #madewithlove

Better for the Planet

Cheap imported products actually cost the Earth! 🌍

Nearly half of the UK’s carbon footprint is as a result of imported goods, according to research by the World Wildlife Fund.

Products including clothing, processed foods and electronics imported into the UK are counted as the manufacturing country’s emissions, not the UK’s – although they would not have been produced were it not for UK demand.

These emissions account for 46% of the UK’s carbon footprint yet are not currently covered by national reporting or included in the UK’s net zero target.

We are not yet carbon neutral here, but we are improving as we switch ever more to renewable energy. Which means that British-made goods, even those where some of the raw materials are imported, have an intrinsically lower carbon footprint.

To put things into perspective, China and the US account for over 40% of global CO2 emissions while the UK is 1%.

In a nutshell, if more people choose more products that are made in Britain, that will help reduce the overall global carbon footprint.

What price your planet?

#carbonfootprint #carbonneutral #costingtheearth #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyproducts #sustainable #sustainableshopping #wwf

Local Jobs

This one really needs no explanation!

If you buy British-made products, you are helping create and maintain local jobs.

Simple as… 😊

#localjobs #localemployment #britishjobs #britishemployment #supportlocaljobs #supportlocalemployment #jobs #employment

Innovation

Did you know that the jet engine is a British innovation(*) and the Royal Air Force was the first of its kind…

(* Innovation = A new idea or method and or its use)

Now we’re not selling jet engines on Buy Britain (yet 😜) but we do have plenty of innovative products on offer.

Like the spinning cufflinks engineered by Involute from materials used in fighter jets.

Or the specially formulated car care products from the clever chaps at REVIVE Auto Apothecary.

To name just a couple – there are many more.

And they are just the tip of the iceberg. All around Britain amazing small businesses are coming up with new ideas all the time.

That’s maybe why the UK is ranked highest globally for innovation among the G7/G20 economies.

Of course, not everything invented here is made in Britain, but we have the capability and increasingly the will.

We’ve explored some of the reasons for buying British-made in earlier posts – like supporting local jobs and reducing carbon footprint.

If you are an innovative “British-made” business – come and join our growing marketplace for your products.

#innovation #innovate #innovative #britishinnovation #innovationuk #redarrows #airdisplay #raf #jet #jetengine #airshow #bournemouthairshow #bournemouth

Creativity

Shakespeare, Hockney, Wren, Gielgud, Brunel, Sting, Turner, Chaplin, Banksy, Ramsay, Newton, Bowie, Westwood, McCartney, Keats, Lloyd-Webber, Conran, Bacon, Quant, Stormzy, McKellen, Faraday, Adele, Fonteyn….the list of British creatives is endless!

Britain has an amazing heritage of creativity – “the use of imagination or original ideas to create something” 🎭🎨🏛🎶💍✍️

And that is still going strong – possibly stronger than ever as the pandemic has forced so many people to rethink what they do and how to make a living. Which has spawned a plethora of new creative products, from small local businesses.

Examples of which you will find all over the internet, without which it would be hard for people to get their ideas out there – take a bow Sir Tim Berners-Lee 😄

We are fortunate to have a number of very creative folk who have listed their amazing British-made products on Buy Britain. We could start naming them here, but there are so many it’s easier if you just take a look for yourself…

#creativity #creative #creatives #art #artist #literature #drama #music #dance #theatre #film #cinema #artistic #ballet #fashion #design #designer #jewellery

Heritage 

Who doesn’t immediately recognise and associate an image like this with Britain 🇬🇧??

This stunning piece by Tiffany Budd, in her trademark “Fractured” style, perfectly captures the essence of our British heritage.

That heritage is a rich vein that flows through so much of what people all around the world recognise and value in British brands and products – especially when they are Made in Britain. Our heritage defines who we are, how we think and inspires what we make.

When you start to think about it, there are so many things that you’d automatically associate with Britain; like…

• The Royal Family
• Pubs
• Tartan
• Marmite
• Red Telephone and Post Boxes
• The Boat Race
• Football
• Beefeaters
• Jaguar
• The Beatles
• Fish & Chips
• Beach Huts
• Sherlock Homes
• Castles
• Rolls Royce
• The Marines
• Stonehenge
• Beatrix Potter
• The Mini & The Mini Skirt
• Afternoon Tea
• Leeks
• RNLI
• Chelsea Pensioners
• Knights in Armour
• Twiggy

….to name just a few. What other quintessentially British icons spring to mind?

#quintessentiallybritish #british #gb #britishheritage #windsor #windsorcastle #unionjack #teamgb #marmite #royal #marines #rollsroyce #mini #thebeatles #football #pub #fishandchips #beatrixpotter #stonehenge #twiggy #beefeater

Entrepreneurship

We have an amazing spirit of entrepreneurialism in Britain. In 2020 alone, over 835,000 new businesses launched – up over 40% compared to 2019 and a whopping 96% up on 2018!

The largest sector was retail – mostly online, like Buy Britain in fact 😊

We know from our own experience, that the pandemic drove many to start something new; and lot decided to make products here in the UK 🇬🇧👍 We’re happy to say that a good number of the brands on our marketplace fall into this camp; offering fabulous products 🤩

Our Buy Britain family continues to grow, as does turnover. The entrepreneurial spirit is especially strong among us; so we truly believe we can make “the whole greater than the sum of the parts”.

If you are an entrepreneur making great products in Britain, you’ll find a warm welcome here 🤗

Why not give us a go…

#entrepreneur #entrepreneurial #startup #retail #shoponline #sellwithus #sellonline #newbusiness #strongertogether

Economic Boost

Buying British-made means more money stays in the country and circulates through the economy.

Everyone of us can do our part to revive the UK economy by purchasing British-made products whenever the opportunity presents itself.

When you buy British-made, you’re buying something that has been produced in Britain – helping to support British jobs, maintain skills and keep money in the local economy.

We’re not saying you should buy everything British-made – there are many great products made in other countries. And of course, many British-made products use imported materials. There will always rightly be a place for products from overseas.

We’re simply making the obvious point – the more that British-made products are supported, the better it is for our economy. We have the opportunity to create a local, sustainable economy by buying British-made.⁣

And with sites like BuyBritain.com it’s easy to do from the comfort of your home. Buy Britain is helping UK-based companies get in front of more customers, by providing them with an online marketplace exclusively for British-made goods.

Take a look; we hope you’ll be as impressed as we are with the breadth and quality of what our brilliant local businesses produce…

#economicboost #economicrecovery #localeconomy #britisheconomy