"The thing is, what we have to say doesn't really matter that much. We weren't there to point the finger at anyone. Our little snippets of information and opinion, if they make it into the show, are a tiny drop in a very big ocean"
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Don't ever forget what you have to say - REALLY MATTERS - educating the public is the only way - the only reason why these retailers are profitable is because people keep buying. Until the public stop supporting them, it will continue.

Let the back lash begin...

Posted by: Loula | June 23, 2008 10:12 PM

Great point about how Primark can be a scapegoat as it may be the cheapest, but not neccessarily the only one that uses sweat shops or children to make products. I'm waiting for the show to come on iplayer but watching the clip, i can't believe the hardocre evidence they have of childrem making garments. I hope the programme looks at the other side, i guess they do provide jobs and maybe if we stopped buying then they would be paid even less, but Primark having cooonstant mile long queues proves they're raking it in! Can't wait to watch the show, congrats for the feature! I know I will be avoiding Primark way more now.

Posted by: selina | June 23, 2008 11:50 PM

Ooh, please put up video if you can for your American readers!

Posted by: Andrea | June 24, 2008 12:20 AM

I found the panorama program very insightful and hope Primark don't cut and run as what was implied when they said they were dropping 3 of their suppliers. To see one of their suppliers sub-contracting to a group that exploits refugees and children was abhorrent. I think people need to realise how their clothes can be made so cheaply and hope primark don't leave these workers in the lurch. Dropping the suppliers was supposed to get the heat off of them, but I'm glad panorama tried to emphasise the fact that by doing this, it's not helping the situation (leaving how many people out of work???) and they should try to engage with these companies to improve the situation.

Posted by: oth | June 24, 2008 10:23 AM

I thought the fact that those promoting ethical trade recommended that consumers do NOT boycott shops like Primark as it will lead to loss of jobs, leaving these communities worse off, leaves us with a bit of a conflict. How much difference can expressing your opinion to a retailer on these issues really make if at the same time you continue to shop there? At the end of the day these companies are in business to make profits, not to change the world and they only want the consumer's trust in order to get the consumer's money. If they continue to get the latter without the former then doesn't it actually make good business (if not ethical) sense to continue using cheap labour?!

Posted by: Fee | June 24, 2008 12:11 PM

As you say I get fed up of Primark being the scapegoat, it is the whole industry, which is involved. Just because you may be paying £5 for a skirt in Primark or £30 for a skirt in Topshop does not necessarily mean the person who has made the actual garment is getting anymore money or better working conditions and this goes right up the high end designer fashion too. There is no point pointing the finger at one shop or business and saying look what they are doing. You have to look at the industry as a whole. Even if to speak clothes got more expensive so to give the workers more money who to say this money goes to them? It’s the people in between the shop and the person making the garment who is getting the money and I don't know what the solution is to stop people treating their own people so badly. However as usual there is always going to be a catch 22, if the shops stop getting their clothes made in these factories then there is no work for the people but if they continue employing these factories appalling state of business only continues. The whole situation needs to be overhauled the problem is how? Also I think the BBC3 documentary which sent young people out to India to all the different types of factories was extremely insightful rather than attacking one shop. However at least it is getting publicity and people are talking about it.

Posted by: Clare | June 24, 2008 5:29 PM

The Panorama film made a strong point about the extreme pressure that big retailers put their suppliers under. The retailers demand low prices and short lead-times from manufacturers, but at the same time insist that the factories don't cut corners by exploiting workers. The retailers all claim to conduct audits, but the film strongly implied that these are not always very rigorous. If a major retailer is selling a garment with hand-beading and hand embroidery at a rock-bottom price, then the figures can only mean that someone somewhere has been paid a pittance for their efforts. The solution is not for Primark and other retailers to dump their suppliers and wash their hands of the problem. They need to engage with factories and pay realistic prices.

Posted by: Isabelle | June 24, 2008 7:51 PM