Orders for hundreds of British flags flood Chinese language manufacturing facility after Queen’s demise – Nationwide

Ninety minutes after Queen Elizabeth II died, orders for hundreds of British flags began to flood right into a manufacturing facility south of Shanghai.

Greater than 100 workers 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 keeping with normal supervisor Fan Aiping.

Some are British flags to be carried by mourners or hung outdoors houses. Others present Elizabeth’s portrait and the years of her start and demise. They vary in dimension from 21 to 150 centimeters (8 to 59 inches) extensive and promote for 7 yuan ($1).

The primary buyer despatched an order at 3 a.m. Chinese language time for tens of hundreds, in keeping with Fan. She mentioned 20,000 the manufacturing facility had in inventory had been despatched out that morning.

“The client got here to our manufacturing facility on to seize the merchandise,” Fan mentioned. “Lots of the flags weren’t even packaged. They had been put in a field and shipped away.”

The manufacturing facility had been making flags for the soccer World Cup earlier than Elizabeth’s demise.

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Chuangdong has been within the trade 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.

Workers take note of information for occasions that may herald orders.

“There’s a enterprise alternative behind each information occasion,” Fan mentioned.

Ni Guozhen, an worker since 2005, mentioned she has discovered concerning the world by way of her work.

“I’ve discovered loads about present occasions,” mentioned Ni, who was stitching flags with the queen’s portrait. “My data has grown. Subsequently I’m proud and completely happy that I’m making flags.”

Ni remembers filling orders for British-themed flags for a royal marriage ceremony.

“There’s a story behind every flag,” Fan mentioned. “This time it’s concerning the queen in the UK. They’re shopping for these flags to mourn the queen deeply.”