Soapbox

Chris,

I suppose you're right, it's just that from a company that plays the "ethical card" so much, such ruthlessly robust commercial practice is a bit of a disappointment to me. Whatever you say, Nick Brown's answers seemed very evasive and did not address the point explicitly and honestly. At least that's my opinion. Typically future proof answers with built in deniability just as you might expect from politicians like Blair or Mandelson. Designed to give the impression of saying something but not explicitly saying it at all when subsequently looked at for literal meaning.

Yep just like all those nice people trying to tell us their product saves the world/reduces CO2/protects little bunnies.

'We're only building windfarms to save the world' says the MD of 'Uber-turbines'R's; as he climbs into his top of the Range BMW 5 series.

Cynic moi!

seeing as this thread has taken an ecological twist...

nick brown 3 wrote (see)

In fact, in business, that's what you have to do - if you want to make emotionally based decisions, like my decision to base Páramo production in a project that helps at-risk women in Bogota, you have to back it up with a lot of commercial nouse. And then you might need to get creative when the pound collapses!

...my Fuera Smock & Torres Gilet don't help at-risk women in Bogota seeing as the labels read: 'made in Taiwan'

Glyn wrote (see)

seeing as this thread has taken an ecological twist...

nick brown 3 wrote (see)

In fact, in business, that's what you have to do - if you want to make emotionally based decisions, like my decision to base Páramo production in a project that helps at-risk women in Bogota, you have to back it up with a lot of commercial nouse. And then you might need to get creative when the pound collapses!

...my Fuera Smock & Torres Gilet don't help at-risk women in Bogota seeing as the labels read: 'made in Taiwan'

Just checked our last 2 purchases - Torres light gilet and Torres gilet don't help at-risk women in Bogota seeing as the labels read: made in China.

Ouch.

nick brown 3 wrote (see)

I don't think that the consumers would be very happy if we had to sell out, reduce our range  and get all of our stuff made cheaply in some sweatshop China because we were not prepared to make some demands on retailers

Interesting that. <checks label>

My Velez Adventure Light is made in Colombia, wonder how much of their stuff isn't.

Edit: Ah, and there it is, Ta Glyn.

Glyn wrote (see)

maybe playing the eco-card wasn't the best move

IIRC Catherine Whitehead answered this a few years ago. The reason not all items are manufactured by the Miquelina Foundation in Colombia is that they are working at full capacity there (on Analogy products, I think). They were looking at setting up a similar foundation in Vietnam to produce other products time but if things have been made elsewhere than Vietnam maybe this was not possible. They kept it quiet at the time - there was no press release.

I must confess to feeling a bit of a freak at the minute with all this critism- I like their goods, the same size  always fit me (not all things are cut the same - if people think some Jackets are too baggy for them -try a Vasco which is a (bit of a) slimmer fit and I've always found a colour I am happy with whatever I've bought (though not every colour is to my taste - but thats the same with every other manufacturer). Do I need help.

I am also pleased that they have helped some others even if the Vietnam venture did not materialise for some reason. For a relatively small company they have done a lot more than some of the bigger ones.

Nope...Vietnam is off the ground and working - and Taiwan

see here

I've cut the label off my last purchase (Fuera jacket). My last purchase before that (Quito) has made in Columbia.

I cut the labels off my "keepers" - waiting for a successor to the Quito not for fat short bloke, cough, sorry, meant not with the "alpine" cut.

Thank you PGJ.

I  did not want to get further involved in this - but there you go.

My commitment is to people who support what I stand for - and not to those that don't. Simple as that. My commitment is also to those people who, on occasion, cannot stand up for themselves.

I have been fortunate enough to make choices that many others would never have been able to make - and I find it very hard when economic circumstances drive me to make purely commercial decisions, but I always try to go for the greater good. I don't always succeed.

I do not personally make any money out of Páramo at all -- in fact, over the years I would estimate that my investment in social projects probably runs into some millions. But I am certainly not poverty stricken, and that is, quite simply, not because I am a sharp businessman, but because I, and the people I work with, design products that people want to buy .... so if you want to try to compete with me on my terms -- I am up for it ... and that really is my last word here.

Paramo don't make boots!

Edit. In answer to the original question.

'I do not personally make any money out of Páramo at all'

In response to Nick:

If you dont make any money out of paramo, is that why the terms have changed for your retailers; because you need a retirement fund perhaps?

Conclusion: Sounds like rather than make the consumer pay the retailers are fitting the bill, even though without them you would never have got to where you are now. Although i do like cheaper products I need somewhere to buy them!!! Will there be anywhere left if other retaillers follow chevin trek? Another question: rather than change terms why not just put the trade and RRP prices up by a percentage?

 Ill put my claws away now....

Bit slow off the mark arent we, In Theknow....

or do you work for Chevin trek?