Hello!
Even though it's the weekend... it's raining.
It's a bit depressing.
To be honest, I hate the rain.
Even if it rains, our pop-up store in Yokohama has a roof so you don't feel the rain, and we're still operating our silk shop with gusto!
Now, about today's blog!
What to ask when hosting a pop-up store
During the event, customers will definitely ask "Is it in Japan?" or "Is it in Japan?" several times.
I assume that you are trying to confirm whether it is "Made in Japan " or "Japan made" and I am replying accordingly.
However, every time I answer, I feel uneasy for some reason.
Legally, it is mentioned by the Fair Trade Commission in the notice based on Article 4 , Paragraph 1 , Item 3 of the Act on Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, in the section "Unfair representation of the country of origin of the product," and is defined as the country where an act that brings about a substantial change has been carried out.
Difficult!
In short, in which country was the product itself commercialized or completed as a solid product?
This determines the country of origin.
To put it more simply, if the main functions are completed in Japan, then it is made in Japan.
For example, if the cooling function of a refrigerator or the suction function of a vacuum cleaner is developed in Japan, then it is a Japanese product.
And if it's China, it's made in China.
I previously worked as head of marketing for a luxury interior furniture brand based in Denmark.
At that time, we received an inquiry from a customer saying, "I thought it was made in Denmark, but it says Made in China!!"
Similar inquiries were made to Constance
Without a doubt, all the parts that make up the furniture were made in Denmark.
The raw materials, iron parts, and other items needed to complete the furniture were sourced, produced, and manufactured in Denmark... but it was China that assembled these items to make them function as furniture (products).
I think assembly and completion = production, manufacturing.
For orders from Asia, we needed to make the shipping boxes as small as possible to keep shipping costs down. Since shipping finished furniture would have resulted in shipping costs that would have eaten into our profits, we made the parts as small as possible and packed them smartly. We sent them to China, assembled them in China, and then sent them to Japan to clear customs before delivering them to the customer.
Therefore, the furniture (product) is labeled "Made in China."
We explained the above to the customer in detail, and of course, he was satisfied.
Here's a bad example!
When a product A is made in a Japanese factory using materials sourced from China, and the product is made by an American, a Frenchman, or a Thai, it is still considered to be made in Japan.
However, there are cases where even if a product is produced in China, the final inspection is carried out in Japan and the product is labeled as being made in Japan.
This is not a product made in Japan, but rather a product made in China, but it would still be considered Made in Japan.
I can imagine that customers would ask why something is made in Japan or not, and I think so too.
It's made in Japan
- Not to mention high quality! (Already common knowledge) Guaranteed quality (They are often long-lasting = It is a correct understanding that many of these products are highly durable because they are made with precision and accuracy)
- Trust in the product (authenticity)
- So, rest assured
So, many people have a good image of it!
I think so.
So I think it is no exaggeration to say that it is a characteristic of Japanese people to want to buy things made in Japan.
It's natural to want good quality
Of course! I want it to be worth the price I pay.
Rather than thinking about whether something is made in ___, I think about whether the manufacturer or seller can be trusted.
ar* sells silk products, so the silk products we handle include both Japanese and Chinese products.
Japanese silk products are of high quality, needless to say, as they are made using traditional techniques from the long history of sericulture, when kimonos were made, and other traditional Japanese clothing.
So, it is not necessarily true that Chinese silk products are inferior.
Even though I'm 100% Japanese, I find that silk products fully satisfy my needs, so I wear and put on their products and recommend them with confidence to customers!
We are proud to sell
In fact, China has a long history with the Silk Road, so it is more advanced in terms of silk.
Due to their long history, they have been working with silk for a long time, so their veteran skills shine through.
On the other hand, Japan has a short history of silk making, but the delicate craftsmanship of the Japanese people shines through.
What I want to say is that when it comes to silk, you shouldn't be concerned about "made in ___" or look at it through colored glasses, but rather look at the product itself and decide whether it is a product that you are satisfied with or not.
I mean
Thank you for reading today's blog, even though it was a long one!
Have a nice weekend!
But I would be happy if you came to the pop-up store.
We're waiting!
Silk is the best! Love Silk
Silk maniac
R