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 Kayak Manufacturing in China!  Look Carefully, or else your next kayak could be… “Made in China”! Long before Canada was a nation, the Inuit and Native Peoples’ had perfected the crafts we know today as canoes and kayaks. Voyageurs journeyed into the wilderness establishing the Fur Trade, opening up settlements in what has become Canada. Perhaps it’s our rich paddling heritage and the vast amount of water within our boundaries that has made canoes & kayaks a part of what “Makes Us Canadian”. Recent developments in the kayak industry may be leading to the erosion of what many consider part of our Canadian Legacy. An increasing number of kayak companies are making the decision to move their production to China. Access to an endless labour force, low wages, questionable human rights and substandard working conditions has kayak executives licking their chops with an alternative way to cut costs and maximize profits. What types of kayaks are being made overseas? Contrary to the “Made in China is cheap” stigma, it may surprise you to learn it’s the more expensive fibreglass, Kevlar and carbon boats that are being farmed out. Why, its simple, composite kayaks are much more labors intensive to produce than other kayak types, so savings are maximized. Vacuumed formed Thermoform kayaks and lower cost roto-mold kayaks require less man-hours to produce as they are largely machine made, therefore manufacturing is likely to remain here, for now. Ironically former Canadian companie Current Designs who had been already gobbled up by American giants, are now leading the exodus of large North American kayak companies setting up shop in Asia: Necky Kayaks: Current Designs Kayaks: Point 65n Kayaks: Epic Kayaks: Companies may go to great lengths to HIDE the FACT that their kayaks are now made in Asia! PS: To help consumers we display a "Country of Manufacturing Origin Flag" Beside Every Boat On Our Website: www.frontenac-outfitters.com China Article Update:
Our "Look Carefully, or else your next kayak could be... Made in China" Article was done in response to the urgings of Canadian & American consumers questions regarding the Place of Manufacture. CONSUMERS have a RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE A PRODUCT IS MADE! MANUFACTURERS have a MORAL & ETHICAL OBLIGATION to present THE FACTS to consumers - prior to purchase! Intentional or not, companies using offshore manufacturing are increasingly leading consumers into making obvious and false conclusions. IE: Point 65n Kayaks from Sweden Consumers may have moral issues to consider when purchasing from China, such as: Environment, Human Rights, Working Conditions, North American Job Loss, Atrocities committed against the Tibetans etc., and these can be debated endlessly. The point of our article was to educate consumers, and to request manufacturers into more ethical marketing practises by correctly displaying "Made in China" on those products! Just one Consumers Response: (we've got dozens more) "I've led two corporations and also retired as a senior military officer defending your right to speak freely. Notwithstanding your remarks, consumers have a right to know what they're buying and its origin of manufacture. That's not being xenophobic, it's called being informed. When a manufacturer is attempting to conceal that information, it's called a lapse in ethical conduct. It also raises the question of what else are they hiding in the product you are about to purchase? Personally, I'd prefer to know the risks before I put my money on the counter & I thank Frontenac Outfitters for their candor"! Marty Note: For more information before making an informed decision to buy, you may wish to check out the "Boycott Made in China" site. Click on the icon below.
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