Ninety minutes after Queen Elizabeth II died, orders for hundreds of British flags began to flood right into a manufacturing facility south of Shanghai.
More than 100 staff at Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Co. put aside different work and put in 14-hour days beginning at 7:30 a.m. making nothing however British-themed flags.
They turned out not less than 500,000 the primary week, in response to basic supervisor Fan Aiping.
Some are British flags to be carried by mourners or hung outdoors properties. Others present Elizabeth’s portrait and the years of her delivery and demise. They vary from 21 to 150 centimeters (8 to 59 inches) huge and wholesale for about 7 yuan ($1) every.
The first buyer despatched an order at 3 a.m. Chinese time for tens of hundreds, in response to Fan. She stated 20,000 the manufacturing facility had in inventory had been despatched out that morning.
“The customer came to our factory directly to grab the products,” Fan stated. “Many of the flags weren’t even packaged. They were put in a box and shipped away.”The manufacturing facility had been making flags for the soccer World Cup earlier than Elizabeth’s demise.
Chuangdong has been within the business since 2005 and produces flags for the World Cup and different sports activities occasions or nationwide day celebrations. It additionally makes sports-themed scarves and banners.
Employees take note of information for occasions that may herald orders.
“There is a business opportunity behind every news event,” Fan stated.
Ni Guozhen, an worker since 2005, stated she has discovered in regards to the world via her work.
“I’ve learned a lot about current events,” stated Ni, who was stitching flags with the queen’s portrait. “My knowledge has grown. Therefore I’m proud and happy that I’m making flags.”Ni remembers filling orders for British-themed flags for a royal wedding ceremony.
“There is a story behind each flag,” Fan stated. “This time it’s about the queen in the United Kingdom. They are buying these flags to mourn the queen deeply.”
