Yes, that's right. Unfortunately, we cannot escape it. Prices are rising on all fronts. And how come? We would like to explain.
High inflation makes our bathrobes and hammam towels more expensive
We produce in Turkey and Tunisia and there are all kinds of domestic economic developments that affect prices. Inflation is high, as a result of which all domestic raw materials, electricity and gas, as well as labor costs have risen. For example, energy prices in Turkey have increased by 150% in recent months. This is particularly dramatic for the general population in Turkey at the moment. The prices for their daily groceries are getting more expensive by the week. Small businesses are also almost unable to pay the bill for electricity. The government has therefore raised the minimum wage by 50% at the beginning of the year. That's huge!
ZusenZomer offers support to small weaving mills
Because we as ZusenZomer pay in euros, our suppliers can somewhat absorb this. We also find it important that as a partner of our weaving mills we jointly bear the burden. They are small family businesses in Tunisia and Turkey and they desperately need our support to survive.
Rising cotton prices
In addition to these increases that affect the production process of our hammam towels, we also have to deal with the cost of cotton. Cotton prices have gone through the roof in the global market. This was already the case last year, but the increases are not yet stopping. This is partly due to poor harvests and the purchase of cotton by China. The cotton is paid in dollars or euros, so our purchase of bathrobes, kimonos and hammam towels immediately becomes more expensive. Add to that the increasing costs for freight traffic and the picture is complete.
Let's hope for better times
Sorry. We want to pay a fair price for our beautiful hammam towels and hammam bathrobes and therefore we cannot stick to our previous prices. Let's hope for better times!