Why the prices of the Polish pottery go up in USA ?

Many people write to me about rising prices for Polish pottery at America dealers. I am going to explain it.

• Conversion rate
  The major reason is changing conversion rate for US Dollar. When I was starting pottery business (2002), you coud have 4.5 zloty (Polish currency) for 1 dollar. Now it is only 2,7 USD for 1 zloty (and is predicted to be 2.5 at end of the year). In other words, factories get much less money when they convert dollars paid by their US buyers to zloties. So they rise prices in dollars (but not in zloties).
• Costs of manpower and medias
  Since Poland joined European Union in 2004, the level of life of a Polish individual is constanly approaching to the one of a typical European. This means that prices go up generally, but people also earn more money. The salaries go up too. The gas in Poland now costs more than 1 Euro/liter and is almost equal to the price in Germany. So, factories must pay more for all medias necessary to production , and have to pay more the workers. This has to reflect in Pottery prices.

And ... it is going to be worse. In the near future dollar will be loosing to Polish zloty - because Poland experiences its great period of prosperity now - the investments are booming, the real estate market is fabulous. All this thanks to new markets open without restrictions in European countries.

So, buy now even you think it is expensive - soon it will be more expensive than ever. Polish pottery factories are looking for new markets - in Poland, France, Italy, Germany. In "old Europe" they have no restrictions, customs etc. US market is slowly loosing its position, because of weak dollar.