The “Flip” Test
By Meredith Schwartz -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 11/14/2007 6:57:00 AM
Gifts & Dec editors recently conducted an informal survey of the giftware at 7West New York showrooms. While the majority was made in China, the percentage is not overwhelming, at about 60–70 percent. India, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the European Union all had significant presence as well, particularly in tableware. Not all products were included in the count, however: samples and prototypes are often not labeled, and one showroom staffer said she was encouraged to remove “made in China” stickers from products because they distract buyers.
Staff members in two showrooms were critical of the amount of products made in China, noting that the industry could become too dependent on China. One salesperson found a silver lining in recent recalls: they have heightened buyer awareness, he said, so that he is suddenly being questioned about crystal — which always had lead in it — and other tabletop items.
