British-made products are too hard to spot, say shoppers
A survey of 2,000 people, commissioned by Made in Britain, found that just 11% said manufacturers and retailers make it clear enough when a product is made in the United Kingdom.
35% of UK adults say that they rarely or never notice when a product is made in Britain, according to the YouGov poll.
The same survey also found that 50% of people recognise the official Made in Britain trademark, and 44% said clear labelling would encourage consumers to buy UK-made goods more often.
At a time when global trade agreements and tariff announcements are regularly changing, as many as 45% of respondents to the online survey said more availability was needed in shops for British-made products.
Boasting over 2,200 members, Made in Britain is at the forefront of this effort to champion buying British and supporting local manufacturing, and these survey findings only serve to bolster the belief that the official Made in Britain trademark is an essential part of the production line and its success.
Made in Britain’s CEO, John Pearce (pictured), said: “It comes as little surprise to us that customers are finding it difficult to identify British-made products from imports, as this is part of the reason we began the Made in Britain campaign in the first place.
“Manufacturing employs 2.6 million people in the UK and sustains a wide range of other industries and sectors, so buying British has a direct impact on supporting local and regional economies and people’s livelihoods.
“It’s encouraging to see demand is there from consumers to buy British, but manufacturers and retailers need to do more to showcase their Britishness.
“We have thousands of members who can attest to the benefits of proudly displaying that products are Made in Britain, which means that not only are those products verified as being made here, they’re also made in line with British values and sensibilities. Our trademark serves as not just recognition of a manufacturing location, but also as a sign of quality, sustainability and ethics, with workers, suppliers and customers being treated fairly.
“Members also make a commitment to supporting British industry at all levels of the supply chain, meaning that when you buy something that’s Made in Britain, you’re supporting a wide range of local businesses. Consumers want to support British manufacturing, but they need some help to do it.”
Read all about it
Made in Britain’s impact on consumer habits is again picking up traction in the press, with Manufacturing Management reporting that “just 11%” of survey respondents said “manufacturers and retailers always make it clear enough when a product is made in the United Kingdom.”
The Manufacturer also stated that shoppers felt “British-made products are too hard to spot” and used the Made in Britain-commissioned survey data to back that claim up. The news outlet also picked up John’s words on the importance of backing British manufacturing, as well as quoting that “50% of people recognise the official Made in Britain trademark” to showcase the work that has been done to elevate the organisation’s message.
Whether it is electronics, food products, clothing and accessories or furniture, the feeling among consumers is that there would be a greater level of support for British industry and homemade products if there were more visible clarity as to where these products were made. Made in Britain has been working to this brief for over a decade, and will continue to do so for as long as it takes, uplifting businesses and manufacturers in the process.
By Made in Britain 1 week ago | Media coverage