Whew...

I feel exhausted from this week. I tell you what, it's a crazy time to be in the design industry. The economy isn't exactly doing anyone any favors, but this financial downturn is starting to affect our business like I hadn't expected. The hospitality industry has largely relied on China and Asian factories to produce materials for hotels for the last several years. This isn't really any different than any other product that we use in this country, like all those clothes and plastic ditties I just can't resist from buying at Target that are all adorned with a little "Made in China" sticker. I always knew in theory that those products where produced in some little (or giant as the case may be) Asian factory, but it wasn't until I was really involved in purchasing and interfacing with these manufacturers that it really became apparent to me just how dependent our country has become on foreign suppliers. The economic downturn is affecting these countries and industries just as deeply, and many factories are feeling the domino effect. Probably as a result of the slower Christmas shopping season this year, many factories are closing their doors after the Chinese New Year celebrations beginning next week. All of a sudden, the thousands of products we are expecting to install in our properties in the next couple months, are just not coming. It's pretty crazy as I am seeing many of my friends in the business get laid off because there's no work for their companies, the same thing is happening in these factories. While I feel awful that so many people across the globe are losing their jobs, I can't help but feel like there is a silver lining around all of this. I hope that we as a country and a culture are learning to be more self-reliant. Our greed and desire for excess has gotten out of control, and we are exploiting other countries as a result. I have struggled with this ever since I decided to become a designer. It seems to be a constant struggle to find the balance between doing what I love, and staying true to my convictions. I have felt sick about our dependence on China, because we could never afford to produce the same item domestically, simply because the cost of labor would be so astronomical. Not because we pay our workers that incredibly, but that we pay the Chinese workers so horribly, the comparison is ridiculous. While I have no idea what the future holds for our business and our industry as a whole, I feel like a little purge is beginning - and I feel okay about that. We are already seeing some of the less-reputable companies closing their doors. I have a feeling that, in this case, the good will prosper, and the questionable companies will fall. I feel more and more thankful everyday that I work at a company that shares my outlook that goodness will be returned to those who put goodness into the world.
Wow, that was kind of unexpected...I didn't think I was going to lecture tonight when I sat down at my computer. I was simply going to write that I am spending all night tonight with this lovely girl, and I can't wait.Happy Friday!