Blundstone factory to close
Workers returning from their Christmas break were yesterday delivered the shock news the legendary work boots will soon be made in Thailand and India.
The entire shift was sent home after the hastily-called meeting to absorb the news.
The business, established in 1870 and still owned by an original founding family, the Cuthbertsons, has been fighting high production costs for decades.
Factories in China and India already make up to 800,000 boot uppers because of high production costs in Hobart.
Increasing labour costs and plunging footwear tariffs have already pushed many of Blundstone's Australian manufacturing competitors offshore.
Mr Gunn said research showed buyers wanted value for money rather than Australian-made, and
michael kors outlet cheaper Asian labour could make the boots for dollars less.
"We are a work
michael kors purse outlet boot," he said. "People want
michael kors handbags value for money. We are a Hobart brand, not a Paris brand.
"Most people
michael kors uk think Blundstone boots are made overseas already."
Mr Gunn said there was no point asking the State Government for a "financial bailout", because it would not change the company's situation.
He said the "loyal and dedicated" workers, many of whom had worked at the Moonah
discount michael kors store factory for more than a decade, had become victims of a changing world.
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