Buy British!

[AuntPG]

I was totally gob-smacked at an article on the BBC news this lunchtime. It's about the fact that some toys from China might be both late on the shelves, and much more money because shipping costs have gone up 900%! OK I thought? So what? I don't buy Chinese tat. Then, they opened up the back of a lorry with boxes and boxes of Harry Potter stuff with 'The London Toy Company' written on the boxes, underneath 'Made In China'. They were interviewing the boss of the London Toy Company. How can a company call itself that and get everything made in China? their mantra on the website
"From plush planes to London Underground trains, we partner with great British brands to create inspiring toys. A toy for any adventure!"

Can I suggest that anyone looking for gifts takes a look at ETSY. You can buy some gorgeous things made by genuine small businesses in the UK. You can get things customised, and find one off pieces of jewellery, printed tee shirts and books with your child's or grandchild's name on. Ditch the Chines stuff and buy British!

[Gromit]

The Device you are reading this on will have been made in China. The TV you watched the news on will have been made in China.
There are very many items where an equivalent British made product just does not exist.

[carrot99]

I bought some dining chairs from the Cotswold Company. After reading about how they started in Bourton on the Water and were inspired by their lovely rural surroundings, I was surprised when my chairs came from Poland or it might have been Romania. Lovely chairs but not made in Britain as I'd expected.

[gingejbee]

I suspect parents buy the things that their offspring "demand"...virtually all made en Chine!

[THECORBYLOON]

On TLTC's Twitter, they state, "From RAF planes to Underground trains, we partner with British and global brands to produce gorgeous, realistic and inspiring toys for humans of all ages!"

They're not claiming they sell only toys made in the UK and there will be many other British brands selling products made or using components from outwith the UK.

[davebro]

A friend's new sofa was made in & shipped from CHINA. Ridiculous.

[bednobs]

i agree with buy british but from looking at the website you mention, i believe they say that stuff because they sell things that are predominantly british related (underground stuff, tanks, red busses, harry potter etc), not because they are made in britain

[jno]

APG, will you find the big-time branded stuff - Harry Potter and so on - on Etsy? In my experience it's great for artisan personalised gifts but I wouldn't expect to find, for instance, Marvel merchandise there.

China's not the peasant economy it was, but I think it's still cheaper than getting Brits to make things, even when you include transporting costs, carbon footprints and all.

[AuntPG]

I know you can't avoid buying from China or abroad that was not my point. I was suggesting that if you are thinking about buying a gift maybe go look at some independent british companies. If your kids demand stuff made in china then go for it -but maybe put in a little 'stocking filler' of something hand-made in Britain? Help out the UK economy? On a personal note I think you should not be able to call your business a name that suggests the products you sell are sourced from British Companies.

[chelle7272]

Etsy is global as well. I have bought from the USA and China through Etsy.

[chelle7272]

// think you should not be able to call your business a name that suggests the products you sell are sourced from British Companies.//

It doesn't, it suggests it based in London.
I can't find the quote you said was from the website, but the About us page banner is:

HELLO We are The London Toy Company! You might have guessed it; we are based in London, but we're also in 1000's of homes across the world from Japan to South Korea, USA to Germany, Australia to London and many more. You may know us as High Resolution Design, but in 2020 we rebranded to The London Toy Company to better reflect what we do and our identity. We can't wait for you to get your hands on our toys because they are just waiting to be played with!

[AuntPG]

I know ETSY is global I sell my fleece on there all over the world. There are a lot of UK businesses on there though, with really nice things.

[AuntPG]

I wonder why they changed their name from 'High Resolution Design, to the London Toy Company.....

[bednobs]

because a load of their toys are london/british related?

[Mamyalynne]

High Resolution Design doesn't give the browsing customer a clue about the products, that's probably why they chose a more descriptive trading name.

[THECORBYLOON]

They gave the reason for the change.

[AuntPG]

Sorry this is not about one Company. It was a general observation on how some (probably many) companies give the impression they sell british made goods when they don't. Anyone wanting to 'buy british'
to boost the economy needs to make sure it is actually being sourced and made in the UK.

[davebro]

Wouldn't be a bad thing is kids got less "stuff" at Christmas. Lots of the tat ends up in landfill.
We used to get one main personal toy, maybe a new board game that the family could enjoy & a stocking with nuts, chocs & a tangerine!

[AuntPG]

The amount of Tat that my grandchildren get from other members of the family is shocking. Plastic rubbish they see on Childrens TV. However, I can remember the utter joy in getting a Spirograph when about 9, and the next year 'Mousetrap', so I guess we were the same but maybe on a smaller scale. Now I'm 'weird green granny' -I buy them seeds to plant or crafts to make, and even though they are only 6 and 4 they really like doing these things.