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Japanese maker of bamboo whisks worried over Brexit

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“I don’t have much reason for optimism.”

It could be worse. You could be English.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Excellent point.

Also, if they really want the EU market, why not move to another EU country. If they feel that a non english speaking country is difficult because of communication, there's always Ireland.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Putting aside changes in the exchange rate, how does the UK changing its relationship with the continent affect the demand for tea whisks?

Because in a few years UK may not be in the EU, does that mean people will stop drinking tea?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Why does an article about a Japanese company selling whisks in England give the price in American dollars??

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Aly Ruston. There is always Germany, with a large Japanese community, also, so they should be able to find people who can help them communicate with the European market (both in German and English - as there are many English speakers in Germany).

Bobsyauncle. While the UK was inside the common market, there were no customs controls, tariffs, or other barriers. And they still had a market of 440M people in addition to the 64M in the UK. As for the UK being tea drinkers, there are tea drinkers in other parts of Europe too (and most Britons drink basically black tea...not the green tea that this firm is involved with ).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Nara companies worrying about Brexit?????

What next!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Putting aside changes in the exchange rate, how does the UK changing its relationship with the continent affect the demand for tea whisks?

If the UK leaves the single market (as seems likely from what May has said) these tea whisks are likely to have tariffs placed on them when exported from the UK for sale in the EU. This will make them more expensive and therefore sales will go down.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sabun Kubo, if your concerned about the UK markets and how it will affect you, well you want to try living here right now! its in turmoil !! the two mail leader have jumped ship, one is off his trolly causing lots of trouble and insulting the EU parliament, the back lash and implications from leaving the EU are tremendous, the UK is in toilet street right now, and its going to be ages before it gets back on track, so please bare with us Sabun san.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Nearly everyone in Holland and Denmark speak English.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Storm in a teacup.

started selling the niche products in the United Kingdom last year, its first major push overseas.

As a springboard for the Eurozone market? Hardly reading the runes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't see any problem here they just started exporting some to the UK to be sold in the..........................UK!!

Just keep selling them to the UK!

And now look for another route into Europe, shouldn't be that much trouble.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I agree with Brian, the vote has split the country (at 52/48 almost literally), the government and opposition are in turmoil, the pound has taken a nose dive making the whisks about 10% more expensive and the stock market is up and down more than a squirrel on a see-saw.

Brexit has had more toxic fallout than Chernobyl.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The UK in turmoil?

The FTSE up and sterling down and an expanding population-what isn't there to be happy about?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The FTSE up and sterling down and an expanding population-what isn't there to be happy about?

With Sterling plummeting off the cliff, and the likely loss of huge amounts of business (from small companies such as tea whisk makers, and huge ones such as Nissan) over the coming years, the UK is set for a long-term economic downturn.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A new PM, and a massive rail overhaul around London and the conduit for Chinese investment into Europe plus the other points in my last post and I see a bright future!!!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

A new PM

Is nothing to be happy about when the person in question is Theresa May! The best thing I can say about her is that she isn't Boris Johnson.

and a massive rail overhaul around London

This has nothing to do with Brexit and is already almost complete.

and the conduit for Chinese investment into Europe

This should be in the past tense. China's so-called 'golden relationship' with the UK was largely dependant on the UK being in the EU. Like the Japanese tea whisk makers, the Chinese will now be looking for alternative access to the EU unless the UK remains in the single market - but given PM May's comments so far, the UK looks set to leave the single market when it leaves the EU.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I thought our products would be well received in Europe, and especially in Britain where there is a tea culture.

I went to other countries without serious market research.

Brexit happened.

And now I have an excuse for failing to conqueer European markets....

these tea whisks are likely to have tariffs placed on them when exported from the UK for sale in the EU. This will make them more expensive and therefore sales will go down.

It's the case for many other companies, but not this one. The product is so light and easy to ship from Japan that he doesn't need to stock in Europe. Also the few people that would pay 50 dollars wouldn't care if that was 300 dollars, they buy because it's expensive. That's a really small market of rich J-expats.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Of course having a new PM adds stability to markets and aids political stability.. The South East and London will have arguably the best transport system in Europe - of course having access to more people and easy access to jobs can only be a massive benefit!And this has to do with making the UK a much better place to do business than many other European countries, doesn't it?

I haven't seen the Chinese renege on their deal, nor have I seen any Chinese proclamations on alternative destinations.

International transactions aren't dependent on being in the EU are they?

I sent funds to the UK from Japan only yesterday! If I can do that then I'm sure that others with much more wherewithal than I won't have a problem!

The world won't fall apart due to the UK leaving the blood sucking European Union -it will only benefit!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Of course having a new PM adds stability to markets and aids political stability

Yes, it will do that, but only for now. Problem is, she has indicated that the UK will leave the single market - which will cost the UK economy greatly, and lead to the loss of large volumes of trade. Tea whisk makers and many others will need to move their EU-destined production / import facilities to the EU. My other concern is the damage her domestic (very right wing) policies will do to the living standards of working class Brits. That may not bother you much, but it bothers me greatly.

The South East and London will have arguably the best transport system in Europe - of course having access to more people and easy access to jobs can only be a massive benefit!And this has to do with making the UK a much better place to do business than many other European countries, doesn't it?

Arguably - but again, this wasn't brought about by Brexit, it was happening either way. Crossrail isn't going to keep tea whisk makers in London.

I haven't seen the Chinese renege on their deal, nor have I seen any Chinese proclamations on alternative destinations.

There isn't one deal, there's a whole raft of them, and we won't see many concrete changes until the terms of the UK's withdrawal are finalised. If the UK remains in the single market, the tea whisk makers and the Chinese and everyone else can relax. But if single market access is lost - as seems likely - that's when the real economic drain begins.

I sent funds to the UK from Japan only yesterday! If I can do that then I'm sure that others with much more wherewithal than I won't have a problem!

Sending funds from Japan to the UK is unaffected, exchange rate aside (and you got a very good rate, so good for you - not so good for those who already have their money in pounds i.e. the vast majority of Brits). A much bigger problem is the UK's financial services passport to the EU - lose that, and we lose freedom of movement of services and capital to EU members, and this will cause great damage to our banking and financial services sectors.

The world won't fall apart due to the UK leaving the blood sucking European Union -it will only benefit!

Indeed, the world will not fall apart. However, the UK may literally break into pieces; and if the world does benefit, it will be at the cost of the UK.

@coskuri

It's the case for many other companies, but not this one. The product is so light and easy to ship from Japan that he doesn't need to stock in Europe. Also the few people that would pay 50 dollars wouldn't care if that was 300 dollars, they buy because it's expensive. That's a really small market of rich J-expats.

You don't know any of this from the article, so what are you basing this paragraph on? Are the whisks still light when shipped in bulk? Are the whisks shipped individually? If that were the case, I doubt he would need any staff or premises in the UK or EU in the first place.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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