Imported Products Versus Australian Made
If you live in Australia, I’d really like you to read and ‘digest’ the page below. If you’re from one of the 40 and increasing countries world wide we’ve supplied, or are considering dealing with us, then some of the statements below may not be relevant to you.
The Wise Australian Buys Australian
I was ‘made’ in Australia, have lived here all my life and I am a very patriotic. If you’re reading this from a nation outside Australia, you no doubt love your county and the people in it too.
The humble neoprene can/stubbie/stubby cooler/holder, and some of their newer derivatives, to fit other sized beverage containers, were invented here, are made in Australia by us, and are an icon of Australian culture — have a read of the product specifications page to find out more.
Sadly, potential clients of ours and other Australian manufacturers and re-sellers are importing their finished stubby coolers and neoprene promotional products from outside Australia — predominantly China — because they are cheaper.
Many of the raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are imported simply because there are no manufacturers here that make what we need.
The labour content of cutting, print set-up, printing, gluing, sewing plus adding the various zips/clips/straps/Velcro meets sufficient Australian government criteria to have our products deemed as being ‘Made In Australia’.
Over 22 people work at the factory, which is a modern, spacious 750m² building. Government guidelines concerning the occupational health and safety of the factory for the management and staff are strictly adhered to.
The printing and manufacturing machines are the latest technology available and many have been specifically developed to make some of the new products we offer.
The staff are paid above award wages including compulsory superannuation (which is a retirement savings plan run by the Australian Federal Government) and contributions to Work Cover (an accident rehabilitation fund run by the Queensland Government). The ATO (Australian Taxation Office) payroll tax payments are all made on their behalf. On average, the factory floor workers receive around $600–$700 AU per working week.
Reason 1
The first reason that Chinese-made neoprene goods are typically cheaper is that a neoprene goods factory worker in China is paid the Australian Dollar equivalent of around $30 AU to $80 AU per working week.
They have no retirement savings plan, and are often subjected to very poor and unsafe working conditions — sweat shop.
You might say that at least these workers have a job, and in many cases it would have lifted their standard of living from what it otherwise was, or might have been. I can’t argue with that. Everyone deserves an opportunity to earn an income, help support their family and contribute to their society.
Reason 2
The secondary reason for the price disparity is the construction quality.
There are dozens of different grades of neoprene based materials and sheet thicknesses that coolers can be made from. A common feature of imported neoprene beverage coolers are that very thin (usually 1.5 to 3 mm neoprene based material, which is sometimes white, instead of black) is used for the basic structure.
This thickness is quite useless keeping drinks cold. The end user of the cooler will quickly realise this and the cooler will either end up in the bin or collecting dust in a bottom drawer somewhere — along with your printed message or logo.
Another cost-cutting trick is to use very low-grade neoprene. This is easy to spot, as when the cooler spends any time in excessive heat and sunlight the product’s inferior neoprene simply disintegrates.
In addition, some glue used in imported coolers degrades quickly, meaning the seams give way, and the bases fall out.
Have you ever owned a cooler where the seam was simply a glued on black tape, which fell apart after a few uses?
It’s also common to see large variations in the overall consistency within an order.
How do I know all this? My clients have told me, and I have been sent samples.
To read more about the effort we make to ensure our goods are manufactured to the highest possible standard, please visit the product specifications page.
Reason 3
The third reason, for the price difference is print quality.
I’ve seen some absolutely shocking examples of print coming in from overseas that have been sent to me by clients. These include, but are not limited to screen print ink cracks evident when the product was brand new, inconsistent print positioning, spelling mistakes and poor corporate colour matching.
I’ve seen plastisol transfers peeling off or the neoprene wall partially melted due to incorrect application temperature of the transfer.
Please visit the product specifications part of the site, to read how we make sure your message or logo starts out, and stays looking great.
It’s Your Call
If you’re an Australian based individual, organisation, club, or business about to import finished neoprene products or are importing neoprene product because they are cheaper then go ahead.
Not withstanding the issue of quality for the end user of the product printed with your logo or message, your actions will result in the death of manufacturing finished neoprene goods here. Our and other factories around Australia will close and Australians will lose their jobs.
Wherever possible, I buy Australian made goods with a preference for local when possible. If you’ve studied economics, you’ll know of the trickle down effect on the economy of buying locally made goods.
As I’ve said, we only import some raw materials because they are not made here. Another consideration is the effect on the environment of importing goods across such vast distances — but I won’t get into that on this page.
Importing Australian Made Products
If you’re reading this page as a potential client from overseas, I’m guessing you’re wondering why it is we’ve sold our products to so may other countries — over 40, so far.
Beside our high standard of business ethics and top quality products, the main reason is simple — our products are not yet made in your country and I hope it stays that way.
Buying the Real Deal
If you’re buying or considering buying your neoprene coolers from a country outside Australia, then these are copies, not originals.
Think of any iconic product that was invented in your country, is still made there by your fellow citizens, is loved by you all and because of it’s popularity, it’s exported, and enjoyed by people world wide. One such product in Australia is our neoprene stubbie/stubby/can cooler/holder (and its newer derivatives). I’d certainly appreciate the opportunity to supply you!
Why is it, that when I bought a ‘Swiss Army knife’, I discovered a ‘made in China’ label on it?
Further inspection revealed it was a poor quality ‘knock off’ copy. I returned it to the store and demanded and received a refund. What I thought I was buying, and what I wanted was a high quality product, made by Victorinox of Switzerland.
I’ve since bought a genuine Swiss Army knife, a quality Victorinox budding knife, and conversely, I’ve supplied our coolers to Swiss clients.
This is the way I feel that globalisation should work — there should be some respect for manufactured products that have a clear country of origin.
Chinese Manufacturers
If you’re reading this in China, you are no doubt feeling rather hurt and confused by the nationalistic attitude on this page. You might feel it’s your right as a developing nation, to copy anything and everything you want.
I and many other citizens around the world disagree with you!
Saving our Iconic National Product
We are sick and tired of you ‘knocking off’ our iconic national products. Please be content just supplying us some of the raw materials that go into our products.
There are some of you, who have at least realised that they can’t continue to sell sub-standard neoprene products and expect to remain in business. If you’re one of these manufacturers — I wish you no harm, but please stop sending me e-mails offering to supply me.
I am not prejudiced against you or your fellow Chinese citizens. Just think how you would react if a traditional Chinese product that is currently made in China suddenly started flooding into your county from overseas, was generally poorly made, and at heavily reduced prices compared to what you can make them for.
You too would suffer the negative consequences of globalisation.
Australian Jobs
I will do all I can to save the jobs of the people working in our Australian factory and of course my business. By increasing the sales of Australian made neoprene products, we will need more skilled workers to fill positions here.
If you currently work in this industry and would like to explore the possibility of moving to Australia, where you will be properly paid, enjoy a safe and happy working environment, and live in a wonderful country, I would be happy to refer you to the factory’s owners.