Let’s be straight about this:
It would be cheaper to make Metalbirds overseas.
Cheaper to outsource the steel. Cheaper to mass-produce. Cheaper to ship in pallets of pre-cut birds from factories that don’t know a Tūī from a Toucan.
But we don’t.
We keep it local... in New Zealand, in Australia, in the US, in the UK, in Europe. Even when it costs more.
Here’s why.
It’s About More Than the Bottom Line
We didn’t start Metalbird to build a faceless supply chain.
We started it because we love:
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Craft
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Community
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Backyard art that means something
That’s hard to do if you don’t know where your product is made.
We Know Our Makers
When we say “local,” we mean it.
We know:
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The guy running the laser cutter
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The woman packing the boxes
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The team checking every bird by hand
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The people delivering the parcels
These aren’t nameless workers on the other side of the world. They’re part of the Metalbird family.
Why It Costs More (And Why That’s Okay)
Local manufacturing isn’t cheap.
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The steel costs more because it’s not shipped in bulk from somewhere that cuts corners.
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The labour costs more because people are paid fairly, not squeezed.
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The process costs more because we choose craft over shortcuts.
Could we do it cheaper? Sure.
But then it wouldn’t be Metalbird. It would be just another garden ornament in plastic packaging.
It Keeps the Craft Alive
There’s something powerful about knowing your bird was made by people who care.
Not by robots. Not by factories chasing profit margins.
By real people with:
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Calloused hands
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Local knowledge
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A sense of pride when the cut is clean and the shape is just right
We’re not just selling products. We’re keeping craft culture going.
It Keeps Jobs in Local Communities
Every time someone buys a Metalbird, they’re backing:
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Local workshops
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Small businesses
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Families that rely on craft, not corporate churn
It’s not just about us. It’s about supporting people who still believe in making things well.
It’s Better for the Planet, Too
Local production means:
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Fewer freight miles
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Less shipping waste
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Smaller environmental footprints
We’re not flying birds around the world just to fly them back out again. We’re cutting them where they’re going to land.
It Makes the Birds Better
Let’s be honest... when you make things cheap, they look cheap.
We’ve all seen it:
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Flimsy garden ornaments that snap in the wind
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Shiny paint that flakes off
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Shapes that almost... but not quite... look like the bird they’re meant to be
That’s not what we do.
Our birds are:
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Made from Corten steel that lasts decades
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Designed with local birds in mind
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Checked by real eyes before they leave the workshop
We Can Respond Faster
Because we make locally, we can:
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Test new designs quickly
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Fix things if something’s off
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Listen to feedback from customers and actually act on it
Try doing that with an offshore factory that doesn’t speak your language.
We Sleep Better at Night
This isn’t about greenwashing or marketing spin.
It’s about knowing the people behind the product. It’s about looking someone in the eye and saying, “Thanks for making this.”
That’s worth more than saving a few bucks.
Real Talk: It’s Not Always Easy
Keeping it local means:
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Higher costs
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Tighter margins
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More logistics to juggle
But it also means:
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More pride
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More community
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More meaning behind every bird we send
We wouldn’t do it any other way.
Why We Tell This Story
Because customers deserve to know where their money goes.
When you buy a Metalbird, you’re not just buying a thing.
You’re buying:
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Local craft
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Local jobs
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Local stories
And yeah, it costs a bit more. But cheap isn’t the goal. Meaning is.
Want to Be Part of It?
If you love the idea of local art made by local hands, you’re in the right place.
Pick your bird. Choose your spot. Join the flock.
Find your bird here.
Suggested Image:
A behind-the-scenes shot of the local workshop team... cutting, packing, sharing a smoko break. Hands on steel, faces smiling. Real people, not polished ads.