Here at Hiro + Wolf, we are incredibly passionate about British manufacturing and the fact that all of our pet accessories are made here in the UK is something we're incredibly proud of. That is why we’re taking part in Buy British Day 2023! Buy British Day takes place on October 3 every year. Dating back to the 1960s, the day aims to champion all the wonderful products that are made in the UK and encourage customers to #BuyBritish.
UK manufacturing is currently worth over £192 billion to the UK economy and employs around 2.7 million people. More than 65 million people live in the UK and if everyone bought just one £20 item made in the UK on Made in UK Day it would be worth £1.3 billion to local economies! Hiro + Wolf make all our pet accessories in Margate and Staffordshire. By purchasing from UK-made businesses like us you are helping to:
Lower your carbon footprint
Buying products made closer to home means you can significantly reduce the number of miles something has travelled which reduces its carbon footprint. UK-made products are often made in much smaller quantities, too. Many can be made to order, reducing waste within the supply chain. In fact, nearly half of the UK's carbon footprint comes from importing goods from overseas, so shopping UK made will help us to reach net-zero before it's too late. In 2019, Amazon produced over 200 million kg of plastic packaging waste, which amounted to over 1.2 billion kg of carbon emissions, whereas small businesses like ours are mindful of the packaging we use.
Save essential skills
Manufacturing pet accessories requires skill and dedication. By purchasing a product that is made in the UK you are helping to save skills within local communities, skills that would otherwise be lost. Jayne makes our pet accessories from her home workshop in Staffordshire. She embodies Hiro + Wolf's values of craftsmanship and supporting British Manufacturing. She was brought up in the pet trade working for her Mum and Dad's thriving pet accessory business before setting up on her own, keeping the skills she learnt and trade alive.
Boost local economies
Buying locally-made directly contributes to your local economy. Spending your money wisely helps to contribute directly towards the area in which you live. Roughly 63p of every £1 spent locally with stay in the local economy, directly making an impact on yourself, your family, your neighbours and your colleagues. Small businesses make up the backbone of the UK economy, with over 95% of all UK businesses employing less than 9 people. Small UK-based businesses are also the largest national employer, providing opportunities for the local community.
If you'd like to learn more about our British manufacturing, click here.