[Jewelry making - Article 00153] - Re: [Orchid] Should Goldsmiths Unionize/Organize

[David Popham]

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    I've been following thus thread since it started waiting for anyone
    else to put down what I'm thing, because in all liklihood they would
    make a better job of it. 

    I see, among others, two ideas stemming from this thread, the first
    is that offshore production is hurting the local artisan, and the
    second is that unions/guilds could be away ensuring that quality
    remains high by excluding low skilled individuals. 

    The first makes reference to ten-year old <snip> kids and
    chimpanzees producing cheap, poorly made goods that drive out well
    made local goods. Usually if there enough voices or they are loud
    enough politicians take note and slap a tariff on the imported
    goods. 

    My brief exposure to economics has lead me believe that such tariffs
    are a bad idea. An implementation of tariffs leads to inefficiencies
    in the market place that may help the producer in the short term
    they hurt the consumer both in the short and long term. 

    Examples are soft wood lumber from Canada imported into the United
    States and bicycles in the low range ($100-$400 Can) being imported
    from China, Taiwan and Vietnam into Canada. In the first instance it
    appears that the move is in support of the lumber barons who own
    most of the productive forests in the U.S. Consequently any new
    house requiring lumber in the U.S. will cost and extra $1,000 U.S.,
    meaning that the consumer has $1,000 less to spend on other items
    such as jewellery. In Canada, the tariff is in response to Quebec
    manufactorers complaining that the cheaper goods are hurting their
    businesses. If it goes through then those who can olny afford
    low-end cost bikes will be hurt and they, once again will have less
    money to spend on other things such as jewellery. 

    So in my mind, to put it simply, protectionism is bad, free trade is
    good. Besides, I don't think that you have identified the correct
    target of your displeasure. I believe that I am that target and that
    there are across the U.S. and Canada lots of them just like I am. My
    wife and I spent six weeks tavelling across Canada and the
    northern-midwest states and we saw lots just like I am. 

    And what am I? I'm that low-skilled who overwhelimingly motivated to
    with metal and then to colour it with glass. Because I like it so
    much and because I have an other source of income ("called a 'real
    job'") all I want to do is to make and sell enough pieces so that I
    can buy more metal, glass and stuff to help me make more pieces to
    sell, all the while learning about this incredible material called
    metal. In my case I sell it on consignment and my retail prices are
    low enough to sell most of items within 90 days. I also happen to
    plot every item's price against it days-to-sale and derive
    forecasting models to help make sure that they do sell within 90
    days. 

    Alternatively it is the stay-at-home mum who has a strong sense of
    design and colour. She has the frame of here pieces manufactured in
    Indonesia and she adds the colour. I've met her, and her works move
    quickly. 

    Here in Victoria we have a summer market place and the same people
    vendors show up year after year; meaning that they can sell enough
    to sustain their lifestyle. Some of these vendors sell jewellery. 

    My question is how is an American union/guild going to prevent
    others from selling their works, in the bastion of the
    free-enterprise market? It would be liking pushing water up hill.
    Besides, the customer is more interested in the article and the
    story that comes with it than whether or not the maker has the
    equivalent of a PhD in jewellery making. 

    Finally, I recently visited Seattle and along I believe second
    avenue is a maker and seller of rings. His shop was a wonder, small
    but perfectly organised. He had two support staff and they too were
    on the ball. Here in Victoria I can think of at least five jewellers
    who have carved out niches in this tough-to-sell-in little town and
    they do OK. 

    My main cocern about the tone of the thread is that jewellers are
    being "victimised", either by others or by circumstances. If one
    starts believing that one is victim one no longer needs to feel
    responsible for what it taking place. Consequently one does not need
    to adapt to changing circumstances, the main one as I see in the
    United States is that the consumer debt is now about 120% of income.
    Jewellery is not exactly a must-have item, and is likely one of the
    first descretionary items consumers will forego. 

    So if you are having a rough time and your are going further and
    further into debt each year it means that your expenses are
    exceeding your income and your business model needs a change. Only
    you can do it. One way is by jewllers starting educate its public.
    It is not clear to me at all the jewellers are doing so. 

david

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