A side effect of importing cheap goods

Cheap imported goods have quietly changed how people see handmade products.

Many shoppers today are used to mass-produced items that cost very little, and that can make the price of handmade craft seem shocking at first glance.

I see this reaction regularly when I sell my woodturning at craft fairs. One moment people admire the piece in their hands, the next moment the price changes the conversation entirely.

How often have you stopped at a Craft table in a market or at a Craft event set up indoors or outdoors?

Did you have a lot of preconceived assumptions of what was on offer and how the Craft makers products were made? I wanted to share one of many experiences I’ve had as a Craft maker selling at a Craft Fair

Manor West Craft Fair

Manor West Craft Fair

A Craft Fair Experience in Tralee

On the 31st of March 2018 I attended a Food and Craft Fair in Manor West Shopping Centre in Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland where I was given space for a 6 foot table to show my products. I met loads of people who told me that my work was beautiful and some who picked my bowls recognizing how special and unique they looked.

Their look of wonder evaporated when I told them the price of the bowl they were holding. I tried to explain how much work goes into each individual piece, how rare the wood is and that if anything I am not charging enough for my work but the damage was already done.

They thanked me for my time and moved on. The reality was they couldn't put the bowl down fast enough and melt away back into the crowd.

If you’d like to explore this topic further, I also wrote a post called “Why Are Craft Products So Expensive?”, where I break down the real costs behind handmade work and why small makers can’t compete with mass-produced pricing.

A side effect of importing cheap goods

The above attitude is not unique and I can’t say that I actually blame anyone who feels that way. Sure, it hurt a little to have my work knocked back like that. I suspect it may simply be a side effect of cheap imported goods constantly flowing into Ireland, which gradually damages our sense of value.

Cheap imported products have also changed how people view natural materials. When something is mass produced and sold for only a few euros, it becomes easy to forget that many materials take years, or even decades, to grow or produce.

I wrote about this from a woodworker’s perspective in my post Why Aren’t We Planting More Trees in Ireland?, where I talk about the long-term value of timber and why replacing the trees we cut down matters for the future.

Perceived Value Versus Market Reality

I can understand why someone might hesitate at the idea of paying €100 for a salad bowl. It does sound like a lot of money for what appears to be a simple hardwood bowl, and of course there are cheaper alternatives available, although the quality is often questionable. Even I might pause before spending that kind of money without knowing the story behind the piece.

What surprises me more is the way many people think about time and labour. Almost everyone I meet at fairs would refuse outright to cut their own wages in half, yet some feel justified calling something a craftsperson has made expensive without first hearing how it was made or how long it took.

The Effect of Ultra Mass Production

The other answer I believe is the effect of mass production and importation of ultra cheap products from countries I don't need to mention. In the interest of higher profits, companies source foreign factories to mass produce their products at a much lower rate than if their goods were made in factories in Europe.

This was fine when it was only a few companies doing it but now we see many more following suit. The negative results are already visible in many countries but does not really concern the people because they are buying cheaper products. You've lost your long term job and your children will find it hard to find work but that's ok because you only paid €600 for an Ipad.

Local businesses are suffering as a result. I don't even need to name any city, town or village specifically as it is happening everywhere.

Throwaway Economy

Nowadays, people are also buying with the knowledge that the item may break quickly but "that's ok because it was very cheap and I'll just bin it and buy another". I'm guilty of this myself, in case you are wondering.

Whatever happened to the old way of buying something that's made to last? This attitude is contributing to oceans full of plastic waste. When will we learn?

How do you change what is happening without costing you a fortune? It's quite simple. Spend €5 to €10 a week in a local business that you wouldn't normally go to. If everyone did this, your town would flourish and businesses would in turn put that back into the local economy.

Short-sighted Spending Patterns

Buying cheap and/or throwaway goods is a false economy and very short-sighted spending. I am one of those small businesses out there and small purchases allow me to make a small living wage. Bigger purchases allow me to live a bit. Going back to that €100 Salad Bowl from earlier, which took about 8 months to dry, 4 hours of work to process start to finish, 3 years of learning to dry wood, on top of 15 years of general woodwork experience, not including overhead charges and VAT. €100 doesn't sound like a lot for something that could conceivably last forever.

What can you do about it?

It's a bit on the nose but you can visit my online shop today for real, quality Irish made products or book a private viewing of my stock. All pieces are environmentally sound. What you do in the future is up to you but please consider dropping €5 to €20 on a Crafter's table and see the difference in their face immediately.

Adapting to a Changing Craft Market

In the last few years I have added retail products to sell on my website. This is not a cop out but an attempt at survival. The only reason my business has survived Covid and the inflation of 2022 is by selling goods for a small profit. Have a look around my website, you might be surprised at the variation of products I have in stock.

Look for these Hashtags on Facebook and Instagram #MadeinTralee #LoveTralee

Conclusion

Moments like the one at that craft fair happen more often than people might think. It’s not that people don’t appreciate handmade work, most genuinely do. The problem is that years of cheap mass-produced goods have quietly reshaped what many people think things should cost. When you understand the time, materials and experience behind a handmade piece, the price begins to make a lot more sense. Craft isn’t just about buying an object, it’s about valuing the skill and effort that went into creating something that could last for decades.

Over the years I’ve written quite a bit about woodturning, the materials we use and the realities of making things by hand. If you’re curious about the craft itself, you can explore more of my experiences and practical advice in my Woodturning Guides & Articles section.

Thanks for Reading,

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a woodturner and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been working with wood for most of my life at this stage — 11 years as a carpenter and over a decade running my own woodturning business.

Over the years, I’ve learned that woodturning is as much about patience and problem-solving as it is about tools and technique. I work mainly with Irish hardwoods, teach woodturning full-time, and spend most days learning something new in the workshop myself. On this site, I share the same practical knowledge I pass on to my students, shaped by experience, mistakes, and time spent at the lathe. If you’re interested in learning in person, I offer woodturning lessons in Tralee, with details available on my Woodturning Tuition page.

© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.

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More Woodturning Pages to Explore​

● Hampshire Sheen - Fine Finishing products that will highlight your project pieces

● Hamlet Tools - Fantastic Woodturning Tools from a well trusted brand

● Woodcraft Hub - View my woodcraft creations for inspiration of gift buying.

● Sanding Essentials - Essential sanding products for Woodturners & Woodworkers.

● Woodturning Blanks - A fine range of Hardwood Spindle Blanks & a few Bowl Blanks too!

● Woodturning Pen Blanks - A huge assortment of Acrylic & Irish Hardwood Pen Blanks.

● Crafter's Haven – A vast range of craft supplies for crafters and gift givers!

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