With the annual Buy British Day rapidly approaching, Oliver Harvey offer their thoughts on what it means to “be British” and “buy British”…
Over the last decade, the voices pleading with consumers to buy British made products have grown increasingly louder.
After several policy shifts and a shortfall of independent retailers in the 1970s gave rise to a decline in British manufacturing in the late 20th century, more and more companies are bringing their factories back to the United Kingdom, much to the benefit of the British economy and the people who live here.
This, along with the rising use of CADCAM technologies and an increase in demand for work, has seen British manufacturing reach its strongest levels for decades, while also changing the way we as businesspeople and consumers market, select and buy products.
Consumer habits change frequently. Some will look for the cheapest option available; some will always plump for quality regardless of price. Some, though, will always check the label to see if a product was manufactured in Britain.
It’s this patriotic consumerism that drives the UK economy and creates jobs and industry in some of the less affluent regions of The Isles.
Taking the term literally, “buying British” means to purchase products solely made up of components or ingredients manufactured or produced in Britain. On a wider scale, buying British manufactured products is a symbol of allegiance to Britain and a statement of intent to support the foundations of British industrial infrastructure.
Naturally, there are some markets where buying British doesn’t resonate. If you’re looking to buy a car, people know to go German or Japanese, such is their quality, reliability and superior engineering talent. As such, the British motoring industry has declined from international powerhouse to miniscule levels. Even British names like Bentley (whose assembly factory is based in Crewe) are under the umbrella of international corporations like Volkswagen, and are so niche that regular people can’t afford them or have no use for them.
While Britain no longer has the capacity to compete in the vehicle market, it remains the world leader in textile manufacturing. We at Oliver Harvey have huge respect for the industry, and what we aim to achieve is the consistent production of products that have respect for the heritage and quality associated with British clothing manufacture, but in a modern era and in a unique market: hospitality.
It is still possible to support British industry while supporting yourself. The food market is one such area where the manufacturing process makes a huge difference to the quality of the end product. We can stimulate our agricultural economy by buying British meat and vegetables, especially while they are in-season and less costly. In addition, restaurants and cafes can source their ingredients from local farmers, knowing that they will be fresher.
Similarly, buying British made or British designed clothing contributes to local industrial and commercial growth, as well as more sustainable practice that doesn’t exploit foreign workers. In the case of Oliver Harvey, our smaller-scale production processes, combined with the use of modern CADCAM technologies alongside the gentle touch of skilled professionals, means we can also guarantee that the product you buy will be of the highest calibre. As an extra bonus, if you need something made to order, we can work in an agile manner to get you your product swiftly, which would be difficult to achieve if our factory was based overseas.
Being British isn’t about being classified by nationality. It’s about identifying with the characteristics and people that define a nation. It’s about identifying with the traditions of that nation. Moreover, it’s about being grateful for what we have available to us as a nation.
October 3rd marks the second anniversary of Buy British Day, in association with Best of Britannia. As a result, we have a special offer in store for you.
What is this special offer? Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll be updated soon…