E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Carlos Barria / Reuters
An employee makes plastic Christmas trees at the Zhongsheng Christmas Crafts factory in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on Sept. 13. Christmas comes but once a year, but for Christmas decoration factories and retailers in China, it starts as early as July and ends in late September, when massive orders from around the world arrive in Yiwu, located 185 miles south of Shanghai in the prosperous Zhejiang province. Yiwu is considered a bellwether for China's low-cost exports, especially exports destined for emerging markets. Orders come from places as far away as Europe, the United States and South America. This year, European demand for Christmas goods has dropped sharply, local vendors said. One estimated European orders were down 20 percent from last year, while another said his European orders had fallen by 40 percent.
Carlos Barria / Reuters
A vendor smokes next to an inflatable Santa Claus outside of his Christmas decoration shop in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on Sept. 13.
Reuters -- Shoppers the world over are stressed and forcing retail executives to be both more aggressive and more conservative heading into the year-end holiday period and new year.
U.S. retail executives are not reading too much into a recent uptick in consumer spending growth, while their European counterparts are dealing with shoppers afraid that the region is slipping into recession.
In the face of such prospects, the trick for retailers and consumer brands will be to figure out how to coax shoppers into stores and onto websites without shrinking profit margins through discounting, opening too many new stores or loading up on inventory that could go unsold at Christmas.
Carlos Barria / Reuters
Natalia Malharoblishvki from Georgia buys Christmas decorations at a commercial area in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on Sept. 13.
Leave a Comment:
So the factory working conditions really are terrible in China, poor guy can't even afford a shirt :(
And we Americans will buy it (and probably in October even before Thanksgiving)
Before we get anymore reactions like the 2 below, my first comment was a joke...
I hoped so lol. He's probably shirtless because it's pretty hot in Yiwu at the moment. Actually it just SUDDENLY got cold.. like..yesterday.
In summer, guys have no qualms ..anywhere in China I've been, about going topless when it's comfortable. Can get prettty gruesome.
but yeah, comment responsibly, or you'll send the China-bashers on a tangent :P.
Gotta love the Chinese bashers. What they fail to realize is that with Mitt Romney as President, he'll do away with those pesky regulations that hold America back, like clean air, clean water, you know, those regulations that stop Corporate "People" from poisoning the planet.
I wonder if Chinese factories are like American ones. You know, no A/C on the plant floor, but those executives sure are nice and cool with their A/C. Evidently, those "Job Creators" must have better rights than workers, smell what I'm stepping in?
I used to be an American expat in China.. On a hot day you see Chinese guys out on the street, in public bathrooms and, yes, on the stockroom floor, going shirtless (in fact, we had to ban such nakedness with an employee policy after it started happening). it's just something they do.
How exactly do you know he can't afford a shirt? There's a fan right next to him, so it's probably hot in that factory. The fan doesn't seem to be on, so he's probably contempt just like that. He doesn't look dirty or unkempt, so I don't think he's poor. At least by their standards.
riverboy21, don't tell me you really think the guy with no shirt on his back is because he has no money to buy one. Don't you see a floor fan facing him? Do you know how hot and humid the weather is in that part of China? You would have any shirt on either if you are there in early Fall.
Wow people are so touchy, it was a 100% joke sheeeeeesh. I even added an emoticon. Can't say anything these days without offending somebody.
I think he looked pretty happy! Definitely has the Christmas spirit....
Unlike Natalia Malharoblishvki from Georgia who appears very disenchanted as she shops for Christmas decorations at a commercial area in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on Sept. 13. She has no Christmas spirit in her.... wonder why... that junk must be dirt cheap over there.
Amazing a supposed Christian holiday and millions of Americans will buy gifts made by a bunch of Atheists in China. Am I permitted to call this stupid?
Probably not, you'll offend stupid people, Christians, Atheists, Americans, Chinese, and maybe even offend the holiday and gifts.
riverboy21.....its ok, you don't have to please anyone! Looks to me like the poor guy brought his own fan to work but there was no permission to plug it in so he had to remove his shirt to work in that hot area.
How much "stuff" do we need??? Watch the TV show "Hoarders".....it will make you think twice about buying all this cheap stuff to clutter up your space.
Oh, that's right it can't be commercial Christmas here, because all the factory jobs have been sent to China. Many American families won't even be able to aford the real Christmas for the same reason. Makes me sick, how 'bout you?
I think I'll make my own Christmas Decorations this year. Get some string a sewing needle and a bag of popcorn and your good to go.
Making your own decorations are alot more fun than buying plastic ones. Make it a party.
The world should tell China where to put its Xmas decorations. The less we buy from China, the better for all. terrible working conditions, poisonous products, extreme graft all put money in China's fist at our expense. Dont Buy China goods.
"Dont Buy China goods" and begin by avoiding Walmart.
Thanks Holly888, you bet I would avoid Walmart. Also the dollar stores carry the cheap crap. Don't ever buy any food from China unless you want to be poisoned.
Judsi,
"Food safety incidents in the People's Republic of China" .... look up this link in Wikipedia. Anyone for soy sauce made with human hair? (and that's just for starters) Yum-yum.
No longer Dollar stores, prices mostly...$1.29 to my surprise at the register. Only a few items for $1.
test
Dont buy Chinese products! Look at the Christmas lights in Walmart.(the chinese embasy)..coverd in LEAD PAINT. Never mind the poisoned dog food. We have to have lead remediation in homes while they can sell it on our toys and other products. American made...yes, more expensive, harder to find, but better for us all!
... and cat food... and sometimes baby formula; not to forget
We should be getting more competitive by now since our wages are becoming so low after what Ronald Reagan started.
Mitt Romney a.k.a. the Santa Claus of China. He's probably having them make money globes for all of his constituents.
Dear Friends:
Are these photos signs of sweat shops in China?
Natalia Malharoblishvki travels all the way from the country of Georgia to China to purchase Christmas goods...? This is far more interesting than the story itself. I am curious as to why. :P
Georgians are good businesspeople with a long tradition of doing business in China. She's probably a middleman (or woman) to markets in Western Europe.
Ahh, thanks for the explanation.
There are many products that are still made in the U.S. It is actually fun to hunt them out and pay higher prices for them than "made in China" junk. Each item that I buy will help America survive. Romney and, et al billionaires, do not care about this Country. America sheltered and educated them and provided the services that allowed them to betray average Americans. Those who rant and rave that Obama is such a poor choice for President are either elite, greedy/wealthy or fools who will embrace their economic slavery with glee and ignorance.
China is despotic and evil. Right now they are trying to convince the World that they did not start the protests against Japan. I remember a bloody square in China where tanks crushed their youth. The Chinese do not have unofficial protests. They would ruthlessly crush any action they do not like. Rather Republican in this method...do not let the noise about protecting freedoms fool you! Why do you think that many are seeking total deregulation, tax abatement for the richest and business/corporate control of this U.S.? The greediest of the wealthy seek a "third world U.S." with plenty of cheap and servile Citizens. We are well on the way. Now, nod your heads to your Masters and turn up the talk radio...
Come on people, we do not need a Chinese Christmas! Use what you already have or buy locally produced decorations. Your children could make $$$$$$! It is so easy these days with the internet and YouTube why give your money to China?
Please, friends, we need to support our own country and our allies and artists and craftspeople. Do not buy Chinese trash. Remember they just build the largest Aircraft Carrier and launched it in the Pacific this year. Do you really want to contribute to another December 7th. Buy American, Buy from our Allies.