'Marty's' in Cuzorn (quite near here) was a huge maker of wooden Parquet Flooring, it employed between 200 and 300 people. In fact it was one of the biggest companies/employers around. Its buildings must have covered several hectares, and its output was huge. Most of its wood was bought from local landowners/farmers, and played a major part in the local economy.
Just a few years ago it went to the wall, and they tried to find a new buyer; no-one came forward. Now the place is being dismantled, and the resulting metal is being sold off for scrap.
I drive past Marty's a couple of times each week, and I've been following its slow demolition. I took this rather poor photo yesterday; it's so sad to see what was once a thriving business being reduced to piles of twisted metal.
Why? I believe that Parquet Flooring was being imported from China, and elsewhere, at far more inviting prices, so the end was almost inevitable; as with so much in Europe.
Dare I say it, but don't price yourselves out of the market; unions please note! Adieu Marty, RIP.
31 comments:
Yes, it is sad to see a local business go down the tubes. Here, are seeing more and more of the small farmers biting the dust. Family farms are a thing of the past.
Except for yours! Farming has changed so much over the past few decades; it's hardly the same business.
It's not farming any more, just agri-business.
A sad reflection of the times, China and India seem to be taking over the world.
A large factory locally, employing hundreds and making the worlds supply of filter tips for cigarettes was recently bought by an Indian company and, like Marty, is currently being reduced to a pile of scrap metal.
Fraid so!
We in the West need to be very careful. There is a huge change of demographic taking place, and the losers will be us. Our politicians need to toughen up!
1% own 81% of the wealth of the world's wealth.
The talking heads in Davos will decide for us in the west and everybody else for that matter.
China has a straglehold on Europe. They own all the big harbours in Greece now, plus a lot more.
You were fortunate to have the factory as long as you did. Make something? No, not in Australia. Our last three car manufacturers have closed down. Now these were very modern and highly automated plants, so I doubt the cost of labour had much to do with the closures. We are still doing car design work and some component manufacturing for the world.
It sounds like 'conspiracy theory', but you're right. They wield huge power; let's hope they use it well.
China now owns Africa too.
Most of the wonderful old British makes of car were bought by foreign companies. I'm amazed the government didn't just say 'NO'.
That's the law of capitalism.
And occasionally capitalism has an unsavoury taste.
It is a lesson of history that all empires have their day: economics and desire for power see to that. However I suppose that we should be glad that China is establishing its latest empiric phase by the power of economics rather than the power of the sword. After all we (Britain and France) established our empires by slaughtering anyone who stood in the way.
For a while now, it's been as if the UK government have been saying "now it's your turn; we've had it our way for long enough". Handing over everything of importance to foreign companies and governments.
I've just been up on the bloody roof, fixing the bloody satellite dish.... Loose bloody wires!
I'm glad you told us after rather than before.
I'm glad it's after than before; it was nasty up there. Very slippery.
I've just been watching a programme on tv. China now takes most of Greece's olive oil and greece is the number one destination for chinese tourists. Chinese tourists...... they are no longer the poor masses! We used to have a majority of American tourists then the Arabs and the Japanese took over. A new era with the chinese!
Everything, but everything boils down to the bloody politicians who now seem more interested in staying in power and not grasping the nettle by passing laws that folk don’t like in case they lose their seats and their fat pension. Long sentence, but I am cross!
We've had THREE major nearby factories close recently, and no-one has done anything. This area is going through bad times.
Everything changes, but it seems more quickly these days. It used to be common for people to retire at a company after working there 25 + years but not anymore. If a small company is successful, it is bought by a huge global corporation, if it is not cutting edge, it disappears.
I grew up in a General Motors town and the job loss has been really significant. The union has made concessions to keep some of the work but it has been tough for many people. People talk about NAFTA here.
I read an article the other day, I cant find it to leave you a link. But I do wonder what the locals think of the huge reactor being built near Marsaille where they have knocked down a whole mountain for a massive fusion reactor. I think they are going to try an turn it on in 2025 (or something like that) good that there are jobs, but bad because it has knocked down a mountain
Always sad when a good company goes to the wall.
'Buy-outs' become more and more expensive, until the Co is no longer viable. It happens all the time.
I suppose that's why Trump is trying to keep America American.
I hadn't heard about that (I don't listen to French news). I shall look it up; thanks.
Awful; and we've had three big ones recently. I drive past each one regularly too.
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