Viewpoints The only way is ethics David Lynn, managing director Dowlis Corporate Solutions, discusses ethical sourcing and managing risk in the supply of promotional products. We’ve all seen the product recalls in the newspapers, and heard the horror stories of child labour being used to manufacture branded goods and even the deaths of people due to negligent factory owners. There now seems to be a driving quest for cheaper, almost disposable goods to feed an insatiable desire for the latest must haves at rock-bottom prices. Amid all this is the desire for brands to be seen as socially, environmentally and ethically aware. The true cost of production Often we are asked to sharpen our pencil, trim our prices and look at the dreaded ‘see what you can do?’. The challenge comes when a client requests a totally ethically sourced product, from a reputable proven factory, at a budget that won’t stretch. Cheap is easy, anyone can do cheap, but anyone can ignore factory checks and social audits and have little desire to add value or protect your brand. Damaging the brand The impact on brand equity has to be taken seriously as the blue-chip brands we work with demand we source responsibly. We are their brand guardians and our exacting standards are strict and enforced, they have to be. We also have a brand and want to protect this to ensure our clients can confidently take products to market without the fear of negative press or impact down the line. Assessing risk We take our role in the supply chain extremely seriously and every project we work on has an associated risk. Assessing this risk and advising the client is paramount if we are to work in partnership to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. We look in depth at the factory, its labour practices, health and safety policies and up-to-date audits. As much as we are looking to minimise the risk, we are also looking to work with factories to improve their practices and will case manage minor non-conformances to ensure future adherence to guidelines and regulations. Fairtrade or fair deal? Ethically sourced means goods that have been produced without exploitation of workers. Workers are employed of their own free will under safe conditions, paid a fair ‘living’ wage and no children are employed. This generally refers to employees. Fair trade refers more to the price paid for goods and more often than not it’s paid to the growers or association of growers, these aren’t employees but small producers. The future Promotional items are increasingly being commoditised with little added value attributed to the design, creative or ethical sourcing process. A fair and competitive price is important but so is the protection of your brand – two pence taken off the unit price seems insignificant when a double-page newspaper spread can go global via social media channels. Post navigation In The Spotlight – Nick Deyong, NDL
The only way is ethics David Lynn, managing director Dowlis Corporate Solutions, discusses ethical sourcing and managing risk in the supply of promotional products. We’ve all seen the product recalls in the newspapers, and heard the horror stories of child labour being used to manufacture branded goods and even the deaths of people due to negligent factory owners. There now seems to be a driving quest for cheaper, almost disposable goods to feed an insatiable desire for the latest must haves at rock-bottom prices. Amid all this is the desire for brands to be seen as socially, environmentally and ethically aware. The true cost of production Often we are asked to sharpen our pencil, trim our prices and look at the dreaded ‘see what you can do?’. The challenge comes when a client requests a totally ethically sourced product, from a reputable proven factory, at a budget that won’t stretch. Cheap is easy, anyone can do cheap, but anyone can ignore factory checks and social audits and have little desire to add value or protect your brand. Damaging the brand The impact on brand equity has to be taken seriously as the blue-chip brands we work with demand we source responsibly. We are their brand guardians and our exacting standards are strict and enforced, they have to be. We also have a brand and want to protect this to ensure our clients can confidently take products to market without the fear of negative press or impact down the line. Assessing risk We take our role in the supply chain extremely seriously and every project we work on has an associated risk. Assessing this risk and advising the client is paramount if we are to work in partnership to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. We look in depth at the factory, its labour practices, health and safety policies and up-to-date audits. As much as we are looking to minimise the risk, we are also looking to work with factories to improve their practices and will case manage minor non-conformances to ensure future adherence to guidelines and regulations. Fairtrade or fair deal? Ethically sourced means goods that have been produced without exploitation of workers. Workers are employed of their own free will under safe conditions, paid a fair ‘living’ wage and no children are employed. This generally refers to employees. Fair trade refers more to the price paid for goods and more often than not it’s paid to the growers or association of growers, these aren’t employees but small producers. The future Promotional items are increasingly being commoditised with little added value attributed to the design, creative or ethical sourcing process. A fair and competitive price is important but so is the protection of your brand – two pence taken off the unit price seems insignificant when a double-page newspaper spread can go global via social media channels.
