Carl Miceli from Official Staunton seems to have posted on this issue almost a year back. This seems to be going for quite some time.
https://www.officialstaunton.com/blogs/news/the-decline-of-the-thriving-chess-manufacturing-industry?srsltid=AfmBOoqwGc1Oi0OWT8q8B3vnW1L800PImCm__Hn6nsQDx_Ucwm7uSYQ_
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The Decline of the Thriving Chess Manufacturing Industry
The decision to enter the retail market directly had severe ramifications for the industry. With the advent of direct shipping from India to the West, manufacturers could offer their products at lower prices, rendering the traditional supply chain obsolete. Western retailers struggled to compete with these direct prices, burdened by import taxes, VAT, and duties. This seismic shift disrupted the established order of the industry and undermined the long-standing partnerships that had once been the bedrock of its success.
Moreover, the focus on slashing prices at any cost had an unforeseen consequence on the perception of luxury chess sets. The market potential built up over years by Western retailers suffered a sharp decline, as Indian manufacturers engaged in a cutthroat competition to sell at the cheapest price possible. This detrimental practice eroded the value of the craftsmanship that had made these chess sets revered and coveted.
As the decline persisted, luxury chess sets, once considered treasures of exceptional value, lost some of their prestige. The industry, once thriving, now grappled with the consequences of a short sighted approach that emphasized immediate gains over long-term sustainability and integrity.
The chess manufacturing industry in Amritsar experienced a significant decline following its thriving years in 2000. The rise and fall of the industry reflect the impact of global trends, technological advancements, and shifts in business practices. It is a story of opportunities seized and partnerships forsaken, leading to a loss of value and reverence for the craft. As we look to the future, it is crucial for all stakeholders to learn from these experiences and work towards building a more collaborative, sustainable, and prosperous chess industry for generations to come.
Came across two articles in local Indian Newspapers about Chess Manufacturers in Amritsar. Business seems to have witnessed a sharp decline post the Queen's Gambit euphoria.
Two articles on current situation in Amritsar,
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/checkmate-amritsar-chess-biz-falters-as-wars-rage/
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Oct/07/checkmate-political-and-economic-instability-hit-business-for-chess-piece-manufacturers-in-amritsar
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(From Tribune News Service)
Ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Palestine besides recessionary trends prevailing in developed countries have meant that orders for chess pieces manufactured by small and medium enterprises in Amritsar have fallen by as much as 80 per cent this year.
It’s being called checkmate Amritsar — of the approximately 500 highly skilled artisans plus another 1,000 semi-skilled artisans involved in the trade, about half have lost their jobs, while daily working hours are down from 12 to 8 hours.
Surjit Singh Ahuja, an Amritsar-based exporter, said after the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), imposed stringent rules restricting the sale and purchase of all 130 varieties of “sheesham” or “tahli” in 2018, the market share of his wooden products declined sharply, especially chessboards.
Over the years, the Amritsar chess manufacturing and export industry has gone through a variety of changes. Before Independence, chessboards and pieces were carved out of ivory. When ivory was banned, it was replaced by red sandalwood. Then the sale of red sandalwood was prohibited, giving way to “sheesham”. Now even the sale of “sheesham” is restricted.
Cut to the present. Over the last year, as the wars in Russia-Ukraine and the West Asia have raged and expanded, the gloom and doom has spread to Amritsar. As the holy city enters another winter of discontent, its artisans and manufacturers are pondering their next moves — will they become pawns in a game not of their making, or will they move around the pieces so that they can survive another year ?