Self esteem and local brands!
I was talking to my family yesterday, and the topic of how the Islamic world is boycotting the Danish products came up. My mom said, “but why do you need to buy from Europe, some things that are made in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are really excellent!” And it hit me that my mom still thinks in a European mentality where solidarity, unity and community are so ingrained in people minds, and probably that is what makes Europe Europe!
That brought to my mind a question that F. asked me once to make a point mind you, if you want to buy a shirt and you have two choices one made in France and one made in Tunis for the same price, which one will you buy? The question kept me puzzled because I really could not give an answer without being dishonest to him or to myself. It also brought to my mind my cousin N. who came back to Jordan after he earned an MBA with this passion to buy local products such as CJC clothing and carpets made by Bedouins… he argues that the shirts are not exactly Hugo Boss but this is the way we build the economy in our nation! He asked me to look at the tag of any piece of clothing I buy anywhere in the west to see where it is made and my shock was when I started doing this that these items are made everywhere but the west! Including in JORDAN! That was a T-shirt I bought in Spain few years ago!
I took my conversation to Y. who is an Industrial Engineer. He told me there is one problem. In Saudi and Egypt the only good products are those that follow strict western standards, because unfortunately in other cases, the industries don’t bother to follow standards. They might start on the right track, but once people start spending money, the quality goes immediately down because they start cutting corners! Is it because we don’t care about consumers? Is it corruption? Is it lack of professionalism? Or is it a desire to make quick money? Just one look at the restaurants in Amman… there is a reason why only some survive while the others keep changing.
With our self esteem, our brand sensitivity and awareness and with all this booming economy in Jordan, who needs to buy local brands?? The sad truth is that our brands stand NO chance in this fierce global competition. One of my uncles’ wives in Spain worked in Zarah factories for a while… the stories she used to bring about the competence of the working women in the factories was a mixture of horror and amusement… do we even imagine and those who make Zarah’s clothing are even remotely more efficient or more competent than our own women?!
Anyway…….It made me wonder if we could ever learn to trust our own initiatives and maybe the magic word to solve our own problem is indeed… self esteem!
That’s right. All you need is self esteem. And perhaps Chinese labor. Those fellas will work day and night for almost no coin. They are practically begging to be exploited.
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2 years ago i bought my wife something at [dillards] got back to jordan she looked at the tag it was made in jordan she said you bring me something made in jordan i said i dont no but if it wasint good i will never got it.
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[...] Mariam’s mom why do you need to buy from Europe, some things that are made in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are really excellent! [...]
Very interesting subject Madas.
Now to the big question:Is it because we don’t care about consumers? Is it corruption? Is it lack of professionalism? Or is it a desire to make quick money?
I think its all of this wrapped up in the simple desire of profitting. What will they profit from their own folk? the taxes they will add for the insuring the good quality wont be affordable for them, then why bother?
In the west they’ll have people willing to pay for their prices, a more evolved consumer society.
The only arabic country that has an evolved industry is
Syria, all local ad all people buy those local products, but not because its their decision but rather because thats the existing system there. No foreign companies are allowed into syria which includes all brand names and even chain restaurants! So what they do is form contracts with those brand names, allowing them to use their designs but all done
with local cotton and materials.
Now is that dictatroship or self promotion? and mind you the prices arent cheap…
At the end you’re right our brands stand NO chance in this fierce global competition, but should that be our goal?
I think all who reached the global marked started off with providing their locals with the best they had and thats what gave them a good starting point. Thats what we should do,start up with ourselves and work ourselves up.
But thats far from accomplishing since the reaching hte west is all what occupies our minds…
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Saad- I could not but laugh at your comments… it is very true unfortunately… but one of these days China will become the biggest economy in the world and we will be begging them for business.
Abdelsatar- I hear you, The t-shirt i bought was really excellent quality and the fact that it was made in Jordan made it my pride and joy
Jad- I read your thoughts, it actually makes me happy when people say that they have a policy to buy local brands when possible…not because they can’t afford anything else but because theychoose to support…. I do like the idea of solidarity…. it is something i learnt in socialist Europe!
Ohoud- sometimes people would export the best products because they actually are more appreciated outside, that would satisfy the profit desire… why dont we want to compete? we are reduced to consumer markets that are dependent on the west, why can’t we become self sufficient when we have all the necessary elements?? from raw materials, to labor, to intelligence to enough money to build infra structure… why can’t we compete again?
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Hey Mariam,
the site looks absolutely gorgeous now – and that’s not only because it’s not blue! Compliments to the chef!!;)
- Linda
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i have done it for you! I could not stand the idea of you looking at something that blue!
love
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Change of look but true substenses ,I admire the Golden Leaves Of Autumn snapshot ,you have frozen a memory moment in our life ,my compliments for the new photo ,my dear lady but I wish you eternal spring .
Levant
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Please note it is impossible to leave you a Remark on your post/blog
http://www.jordanplanet.net/madas/
This problem since you have changed the design of your Blog every time we try it trips to page unknown ?,even if we come to the Jordanian Planetmdas/?p=33 ,again it takes 2 to 3 times to repeat the message to come up as a remark . though I have written to the Jordanian Planet web master about this problem twice to no avail ,I advise you to contact the JP your self to remedy this acquit problem ,we like reading your blog and comment on it by remarks , so do something about it ,thanks madas
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[...] On a brighter side, the Jordanian blogosphere is relieved to know that Jordanian embassy driver kidnapped two months ago by Iraqi militants, Mahmoud Saedat, has been freed, and everyone is praying for the safe return of Jill Carroll. With the issues regarding the national budget being laid out on the table, the Jordanian economy is being scruntized. Batir Wardam says, “After the black comedy of the Parliament’s vote on the public budget last week, I have to admit that I am ashamed, as a Jordanian citizen and voter, of the low professional quality of the Parliamentarian process and of course, the shallowness of the majority of its members.” Rami from Rami’s Mirror has some observations on the state of the Jordanian economy, and Khalaf writes about the government’s plans to spend 50 to 60 million dinars a year to help low income families deal with rising fuel prices. Madas criticizes local issues relating to brand sensitivity and self-esteem, saying, “Do we even imagine and those who make Zara’s clothing are even remotely more efficient or more competent than our own women? It made me wonder if we could ever learn to trust our own initiatives and maybe the magic word to solve our own problem is indeed… self esteem!” Apparently though, the Jordanian IT industry is doing well. The guys over at Techhash report about this year’s East Med Developers Conference. [...]
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