Outsourced

so I'm showing my wonderful multi-purpose bags to the manager of a gourmet food and wine store. She loves them immediately. " they're re purposed, carry a lot, have a very cool food connection, and best of all they are soooo cute". OK, she loves them. then we get to price. I actually see her natural, easy smile become plastered on her face. How does she reconcile her genuine love of all things green, designed and MADE locally, and cute; with the bottom dollar. She brings over some plain canvas totes. They are sturdy and carry the label of a well known national company; and that is all, nothing green or re-purposed or cute about them. Oh, except the fact that they are "made in China". She then points out the price differential to me. In case the word hasn't got out, the reason designers have their goods made overseas is because it's WAY cheaper. So in a very "gentle" way I point this out to her. Now one of the really amazing things here, is that I have been able to keep my price quite low. I have a wonderful fabricator right here in S.F. who is keeping the cost as low as he can. So not to get too preachy 'cause I'm a firm believer in the "catch more flies with honey" theory, but the reality is that if we want to support our local artisans, we might have to pay a couple pennies more. Just make sure what you're getting is way cute; you'll never regret it.