A salesman’s view - why made in Britain is important

By Matthew Hurst
2nd March | opinion

Is buying British important in these days of containers from China et al? Yes, without question.

This is not just my view but that of my customers as well. Price, while important, is not the be all and end all. There is quality, a word some seem to have forgotten, value for money, and choice. With imports we have a reduced choice of pieces. The price may be low but so is the selection, the range to choose from, the individuality, and above all, the soul!

Are imports wrong? No, we buy from Hereford and get an imported range that due to the  dollar is not as cheap as it was but is still a quality product that myself, colleagues and customers believe in. I also sell Treesend furniture, which is made in Britain, has a huge choice of pieces, and very good prices to boot.

This is not an advert for two of our suppliers but rather an honest reaction to imports. Some are good but only if they maintain the link that is still essential to sales, such as choice, value for money, quality of finish, and speed of delivery.

My customers may not actively request made in Britain, but when I mention it as part of my sales patter, every customer is pleased. Every customer reacts positively to made in Britain. At the end of the day, I sell what the customer wants and what my company wants me to sell, but customers often ask for an honest opinion and that is what they get.

This will be shaped by many things and true customer service usually comes from a UK supplier, not a container. With rare exceptions if a product is made in the UK and it has a fault, it can be remade in less than 6 weeks, if it is imported that could be 6 months!

• Matthew Hurst is a salesman at Country Home Furniture in Truro. He has been a furniture salesman for 22 years, starting with House of Fraser, then 13 years with Courts. He has worked for Country Home Furniture for the past eight years. The views in this column do not necessarily reflect those of Country Home Furniture.