頑張れ！スモールビジネス！

ここんとこ、こじんまりとやっているお店が、
《大手の進出により》痛手を受けている兆候にあります。

たとえばサーフブランド。
クイックシルバーやビラボンが小会社を痛めつけたと思ったら、
最近はナイキがサーフィン界に進出し、
それらの会社ですらも、痛めつけられる立場になっています。

水着の市場もそう。
中国に工場を持っていて大量に生産できる大手の水着は安く作れるから
利益も大きい。その分、宣伝もバンバン出来る。一方、
うちの娘たちをスポンサーしてくれているノースショアスウィムウェアーは
２～３台のミシンがお店の２階にあり、コツコツと仕上げるから、
場所代に労働代を入れると、大手の水着と競売するのがとても大変。

先日、長女ティナがそのノースショアスウィムウェアのモデルの仕事を引き受けました。
（実は初めての体験）
ノースショアの知り合いの庭をロケ地として使わせてもらい、
知り合いのカメラマンにプロのメイクに手伝ってもらい、撮影は大成功。

撮影の様子を聞くと、「みんなで楽しく、だけど良い物を作ろう」
というポジティブな雰囲気だったそうです。

世のカレントに逆らう様だけど、
「真心こもった商売」がいつまでも続いてくれたら、
と願うばかりです。



In these days, little businesses have been hurting by big businesses. For example, in last couple years, Billabong and Quiksilver were taking over surfing businesses but since last year, they have been having a hard time because Nike's approach.

Just as the surfing businesses have been tough, so, too, the small bikini company have been threaten by big companies. The most of the big bikini companies have their own factory in China, so that they don't need to have expense as much as the little one do. But bikinis are still expensive- don't you think so? They can make a lot of profit by just having a factory in third countries. However the little companies, such as North Shore Swim Wear, have made bikinis on the same building as their shop. Because their location is on the North Shore, the cost would be so much compare to the big companies.

Yesterday, my oldest daughter worked for them, for North Shore Swim Wear, as a model; I t was the very first experienced for her!! The photo shoot was succeed with friendship. The cameraman, the models, make up person and even the owner of the place for shooting were their friends. Tina was impressed by their food energy. She had given good experience. It was more valuable than money!

I wish that those people who love their business and working hard, can last a long time!