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Earlier this week, I read this article from the National Post: A guide to ethical shopping shopping. It included 5 tips for buying clothing more responsibly. One tip in particular was especially relevant when it comes to buying Peekaboo Beans:
Buy second hand or be prepared to spend a little more.
Investing in fewer items that are higher quality and more durable is environmentally responsible. You are not only helping the environment by keeping clothing out of landfills, but you are saving money in the long run by not having to re-invest in clothing as often. When your kids have outgrown their Beans, you pass them along to another family member, or re-sell them on our Vintage Beans page.
In light of the tragic events that took place in Bangledesh, I have been asked by many customers to share information about where Peekaboo Beans is made, and what conditions are like in our factory. I am also asked frequently ‘why are these clothes so expensive.’ There is a lot that goes behind a price tag, and when the entire process of manufacturing is handled responsibly, we can expect to pay more for a quality product.
Peekaboo Beans is manufactured in Dongguan, Southern China, which is a very developed district with many garment factories and the support of companies, like fabric and thread suppliers, dying mills and printers nearby. The buildings are built to be factories!
In Dongguan there is competition between factories to have and keep experienced workers. Workers have the option of finding alternative jobs elsewhere if they are not treated fairly. That alone is encouragement for factories to treat their people right, but on top of that, the regulations in Dongguan for working conditions, minimum wages, and over-time, are strictly controlled and monitored by the government. In fact a factory owner can go to jail if he requires too much over-time of his employees.
The pressure of overseas clients changed the industry in China to introduce safety standards and improve working conditions, which results in increased manufacturing costs substantially. Unfortunately what happens in many cases is buyers move to other “cheaper” and less developed countries to get their clothing manufactured. In addition to the low labor costs in Bangladesh and other developing countries, generally these imports are duty exempt. With the increasing demand of cheap product in the western world, the savings on import duties and low labor costs is not enough, therefore additional cost saving measures are required, combined with corruption, mainly the workers pay the price.
Peekaboo Beans founder Traci Costa, production manager Michaela and lead designer Calli visit the factories in China at least twice per year. They have developed a wonderful relationship with the factory ground floor team, communicating daily with them regularily.
Why not manufacture in Canada?
Many customers have asked me why Peekaboo Beans is no longer produced in Canada. Peekaboo Beans was produced in Vancouver from 2006-2009 and moved production offshore in 2010. The residing fact is Canada is not a manufacturing country. The conditions in Canada are often poorer than what you would see in other countries. We do not have skilled labour force to manage big productions and we do not have the support companies to work with (ie: screen printers, fabric mills etc).
In fact all the fabric, trims, notions – absolutely everything needed to make our garments was imported from China and the 5-10 sewers in the factory were landed immigrants from China. At the end of the day, if you take into consideration the import duties applied by the government on goods made in China, we are paying upwards of what local production would cost, however we are limiting the environmental impacts of the multiple shipments required to get raw goods here and we are creating efficiencies in the production process. Simply put, we are producing with people who know what they are doing and are good at it. We do still have factory partners in Vancouver for small production runs that are manageable.
Driven by abundance and generosity
Peekaboo Beans is fueling the economy in abundance, whether with the people working at the Playground, the courier services, lawyers, graphic designers, office supply companies, logistic companies, consultants, printers and our own Stylist entrepreneurial businesses, among others. Everyone who touches Peekaboo Beans at any point it its development is treated with fairness, equality, respect and generosity. Myself included.
I have aligned myself with Peekaboo Beans because I believe in the same values. I believe in quality, in creating abundance and living generously. I am proud to tell people that we are not expensive, but that we care about real value in the whole entire chain. Peekaboo Beans is a socially responsible company and we care deeply about the legacy we are leaving in the lives that we touch.
We all have a choice to make when it comes to buying clothing for our children. Consumers are educating themselves and making deliberate choices as to where to spend their money. Annie from Phd In Parenting wrote recently that boycotting made in Bangledesh is not the answer. What we need to do is support companies that function ethically and with social responsibility.
I may not have all the answers that consumers are looking for, but I can definitely find them. If you have unanswered questions about Peekaboo Beans manufacturing, please email me vicky@peekaboobeans.com.
Learn more about our continued work with Playground Builders in Afghanistan (and the world).
This month we have some really amazing promotions! All hostesses receive FREE SHIPPING, and if you spend $150 you receive $25 in play money to use on your next order! Email me to order: vicky@peekaboobeans.com
The snow is still coming down in some parts of the country, but nothing says we can’t start dreaming of an Endless Summer! Take a look at our first Spring/Summer 2013 sneak peek! Do you like what you see?
There are lots of clothing options out there for us to choose from, and especially with girls it’s hard to resist some of the cute pieces! But with Peekaboo Beans, you really don’t need to look elsewhere for top quality, style and comfort all in one. It really is the trifecta of kids clothing! Here’ are 12 REASONS why we are different (and superior to other brands!)
1. Chin guards – never worry about pinching delicate skin when you zip up a zipper.
2. No small parts. Unlike some kids clothing that is full of embellishments, ours contains no small parts, so there’s no risk of choking. (Especially great for those sensory kids who put clothing in their mouths.)
3. Tangle free strings – our drawstrings are tacked down so they won’t come out. Another bonus, our hoodies do not have drawstrings.
4. Twill tape hem – to stabilize our garments. You’ll also notice that it keeps the ends of our shirts from curling up.
5. A-Line Shape – all of our tops have a great shape, with extra room for little bellies.
6. Flatlock stitching – no bumpy seams to irritate kids!
7. Easy zippers – we’ve found the best zippers for little hands, with flat round zipper pulls to make learning to dress easy.
8. Quality fabric – thick and durable to last! Our products are meant to be passed along to siblings or friends (or even sold on Vintage Beans).
9. Pre-shrunk – nothing like finding a great outfit only to have it shrink beyond use after you wash it. That will never happen with Peekaboo Beans. All of our fabrics are pre-shrunk to ensure perfect fit!
10. Thumb holes – find me a kid who doesn’t love them! Great for keeping sleeves down when layering.
11. Versatility – our collections are meant to mix and match. And now with our FUNdamentals basic collection, you can add pieces throughout the year!
12. Reversible styles! Every season we bring out pieces that are reversible, (like jackets and vests), or convertible (dresses that turn into skirts, or pants that zip off into shorts). It’s our way of making pieces more versatile and fun!
Do you know a child that would love Peekaboo Beans? Email me for more info, vickyb.stylist@peekaboobeans.com or to place an order with your own personal shopping account.
It’s National Thank You month, and as a special thank you Peekaboo Beans is offering a $25 savings when you spend $50 or more! Offer ends tomorrow January 17th.
Just a few more days until the launch of our newest collection FUNdamentals! Here are a few sneak peeks!
So many memories I have of my children involve them wearing Peekaboo Beans. I used to save the Beans for special occasions, but quickly realized that my children need to be wearing Peekaboo Beans ALL THE TIME! Here’s another memory to add to our collection, our annual Santa photo!
Let me help you with your holiday shopping! There is still time to place an order and receive your Beans in time for Christmas. Order by December 14th and your Beans will arrive just in time! We have some great Play Promos on right now (email me for a list of the discounted items), as well as our new Playjamas available for boys or girls, which come with a handy little nylon bag (perfect for holiday sleepovers!)
Plus, we have FREE SHIPPING for the entire month. As a special gift to you, all local Ottawa shipments will come beautifully gift wrapped, free of charge (and stress free for you!) Send me your orders today: vickyb.stylist@peekaboobeans.com
**CONTEST CLOSED**
And the winner is… #2 – Krista Birch!
Our long awaited Playjamas have finally arrived! Pick some up for only $58 including a cool nylon bag. What I love about these Playjamas is that they can also be worn as loungewear or playwear around the house. They are versatile, comfortable and so cute!
And guess what… they could be yours FREE! I am giving away a pair of Playjamas to one of my lucky fans! Here’s what you need to do to enter:
1) Leave a comment telling me how pajamas are a part of your Christmas/holiday family tradition (and what size/colour you would choose)
2) Sign up to my newsletter list – HERE.
3) Like my Facebook Fan page – HERE.
Contest ends on Sunday November 24th at 10pm EST. Can’t wait for the contest? You can always order a pair! I will honour FREE SHIPPING on any Playjamas ordered until November 24th. Email me vickyb.stylist@peekaboobeans.com to order.
Good luck!
Peekaboo Beans has been a large part of my life for the past 5 years. The journey began in 2007 when I first came across the brand online, and brought in a few pieces of the collection in my online children’s boutique. A year and a half ago, I switched gears from a retailer and became a Play Stylist and Ambassador with Peekaboo Beans. Over 5 years I have see Peekaboo Beans grow from a budding home-based operation, into an expanding business changing the way we dress our children, and the way we think about play, all while giving mothers an opportunity to own their own businesses.
I can’t tell you just how excited I was when the opportunity to visit the Peekaboo Beans Playground came up in October. I flew out to visit Traci, our Director of Play and PB’s founder, Amber & Kristen our other two Ambassadors, and to finally meet everyone that has been working so hard to make Peekaboo Beans what it is today. My visit was action packed, and truly left me changed. Over three days I had the chance to tour our head office and warehouse and meet everyone at the Playground! I got a sneak peek of some upcoming product launches and learned firsthand just what’s involved with getting all of your orders out the door and into your beans’ hands. I learned so much about our company’s culture, our vision and our goals, and took part in some planning sessions with our staff.
Day 1
There was a warm welcome as we entered the doors, followed by lots of hugs as I finally had the chance to meet the amazing women (and Derrick!) that I’ve been working with for so long. After some training sessions, we had our hair styled in the Peekablo-tique. This little bit of pampering was a taste of our future, working for a company who stands for working moms and woman having it all. Next came a tour around the Playground, some team building with Playground staff and education on our systems and processes. The day wrapped up with a limo tour around Vancouver!
Day 2
On our second day we took part in some goal setting sessions, had a chance to meet other Play Stylists in the Vancouver area (including Candy Sethi on my team, photo in the centre below), and then were treated to a night out at Traci’s home for dinner and dessert.
Day 3
The day started off with morning yoga, one of the many perks of working at the Playground. The Ambassadors then took part in a meeting on building business one sprout at a time through recruiting. The day ended with a graduation ceremony, and lots of sad goodbyes (and happy beginnings!)
One of the biggest take-aways from my visit to Peekaboo Beans was realizing that we are on our way to becoming the greatest children’s clothing brand in the world, and I am so excited to be part of our growth! I can’t wait until I can go back again!
