Recession Affects Christmas Ornament Factories
by Irene Carpintero
The annual Prague Christmas markets are as popular as ever this year, with the usual marionettes and hot wine in abundance. But the glitter of the holiday season belies the health of a struggling glass industry and many Christmas ornament makers who assure that this year might be their last.
The problem is that the Czech market is overloaded with plastic products imported from China, and price is now more often the most important thing to merchants.
Most Christmas markets have been bustling each evening since they opened, which should be a good sign for ornament producers selling their goods. But even the best Christmas sales won’t be enough to help struggling ornament producers, who depend on the Czech market for up to 80 percent of their profit.
In addition, bustling crowds don’t always mean good sales, as market-goers aren’t always there to buy ornaments and gifts, especially if they are Czech, who usually just go there to have a hot wine and enjoy the atmosphere.
The Czech glass industry has been one of the largest victims of the recession, a fact made obvious by the near collapse of the largest Czech glassmaker, Bohemia Crystalex, which closed two of its four plants and let go 1,250 employees in the fall of 2008.
In a trickle-down effect, independent makers of Czech glass Christmas ornaments are now producing two-thirds less than in previous years, bringing many to the brink of ruin.
RELATED LINK
The pinch that stole Christmas (The Prague Post)
