"From a scientific point of view, fur animals that have been
domesticated for more than ten generations must be considered as so far
genetically removed from their ancestors that they have to be treated as fully
domesticated subspecies. Irrespective of the present taxonomy of the animals it
has to be realized that it would be
disastrous to the welfare of the animals to go on treating them as wild animals
in respect to legislation. The majority of farmed fur animals require the same
status as all other commonly held animals in modern husbandry."
PALMS & COMPANY - VIEW FROM SEATTLE OFFICES
For fur
coats and jackets of all sizes for men and women at lowest prices on the
planet -
CLICK
HERE FOR FUR PLATES & scrap raw materials used for manufacturing fur
apparel, clothing, teddy bears, hats, blankets, quilts, comforters, bedspreads,
apparel collars and cuffs.
This firm is federally licensed by the
United States Government. All shipments are in strict compliance with the laws
of the United States as administered by the United States Department of The
Interior, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Agency.
Fur flies in Russian market (click on pictures to
enlarge them)
The world's largest fur market is undergoing big
changes in the demand cycle. Booming demand for fur in Russia during the
mid-1990s was stimulated by cheap imports from Greece - but that wave of
low-quality sales petered out as the market gave way
to sophisticated domestic garments, commanding average retail prices of US$2,000
per coat.
Last winter, only 750,000 Russian women bought fur
coats, half the number in 1998. But market size in value terms remained
virtually unchanged at US$2.4 billion over each of the two years. Independent
market watchers and furriers are confident that the Russian market has reached a
level of maturity which is now sustainable into the future. The market is now
more likely to focus on the consumer who is buying a fourth or fifth fur coat
valued at between US$2,000 and US$5,000, rather than a customer who is buying a
first coat.
Paradoxically, consumer preferences are now split
between domestic furriers and the more up-market importers. One reason is because
of the contrary nature of Russian shoppers. For example, short, dyed-mink coats
are in vogue among consumers in other European countries but Russian women
prefer the long raccoon or fox coats with hoods.
Russian suppliers of fur clothing lose ground
The Russian fur clothing domestic trade is in the
doldrums. Eight years ago, the country imported only 1% of fur clothing. Today,
almost 85% of its fur garments and accessories are imported.
Russia still supplies a large volume of raw furs to
Greece, the Netherlands, Turkey and the US. However, it runs short of mink,
sable and fox skin mainly because of poor breeding conditions. In addition,
trappers in the Polar Circle refuse to supply squirrel, weasel, muskrat and fox
skins following the inability of government agencies to make on-the-spot
payments.
Another blow to the domestic fur clothing trade is the
government's failure to run sheep-breeding farms. Instead, competitors from
Greece, Turkey and South Africa are exporting large quantities of fleece to
Russia.
In
an unprecedented move, the St Petersburg Fur Auction now rejects Russian polar
fox furs for auction "because their starting prices are not
competitive." Taking advantage of the situation are suppliers from Hong
Kong and Mainland China, who are shipping these furs for processing in Russia or
are selling fox garments to Russian retailers.
According to trade association Russian Fur Concern,
Russia is now importing more than 35 million tons of furs as fur production in
the country continues to drop. Domestic production of women's fur coats and
children's fur garments also falls. Russian manufacturers can only cope with the
demand for fur hats and collars.
Not surprisingly, big fashion names like Fendi Gucci
and Valentino no longer market Russian-made fur clothing. Nevertheless, it still
targets the Russian market, where annual sales of fur garments and accessories
are estimated at US$ 2.4 billion.
For some Russians, it enhances their social status when
they put on winter clothes made of fleece. For the majority of the country's
population of 150 million, however, they need to keep warm for almost half of
the year.
Another reason for Russia's unique market can be traced
to the revival of middle-class fortunes, as the country's economy has taken on a
more cheerful glow. Russian women seem to want to buy fur coats for everyday
use. That is having a knock-on effect to the sales of quite expensive non-fur
coats. The non-furs are selling well when fur coats are simply not available at
more reasonable prices.
However,
Russian furriers are experiencing a change of fortunes for the better, managing
to put their unprofitable days behind them, as they compete favorably with less
expensive Chinese and Greek imports.
The result has been that Greek furriers are fighting
back. Russian tabloids are running commercials offering five-day package tours
to Greece for as low as US$150 - but with an obligation to spend at least US$500
on Greek furs. In the event that tourists on the deal fail to buy fur, they have
to pay back US$300 to the tour operator. The rather unsavory look to the
arrangement is not as it seems. The cost of the package is borne by the entire
customer base, together with Greek furriers and supported by fur sales. The
scheme actually has popular support among Russians, who take advantage of the
deal for beach holidays, with some fur shopping on the side.
Russian furriers are trying a different approach in
appealing to the more cost-conscious. Russian furriers are offering fur hats and
cheaper furs such as sheepskin, rabbit, nutria and astrakhan.
Palms & Company, Inc. Founded 1934
Palms Bayshore Building, Penthouse Suite #408 West Wing
6421 Lake Washington Boulevard North East
State of Washington, United States of America, 98033-6876
Phone: 1-425-828-6774 & 1-425-827-5528
Branches: 41 World-wide
email: Marketing@PeterPalms.com
Consulting telephone: click HERE
Created Nov 2002 Last Revision: 6/23/2004
Copyright 1995-1996, Palms and Company, Inc., All rights reserved
HERE. (World Population
Counter)
In
an unprecedented move, the St Petersburg Fur Auction now rejects Russian polar
fox furs for auction "because their starting prices are not
competitive." Taking advantage of the situation are suppliers from Hong
Kong and Mainland China, who are shipping these furs for processing in Russia or
are selling fox garments to Russian retailers.
Can
Palms deliver?
What
is their track-record ?
How
long have they been around?
