The term Fabrikdekor ("factory decoration") and the strongly related term fabrikdekoriert ("factory decorated") are not often found as markings on items themselves, even though both terms were coined by various high-tier manufacturers as a method of countering both low-tier manufacturers' goods and the (re)decoration craze started by some hobbyists and decoration studios.
Retailers and distributors often used these terms in their advertisements and catalogues, hoping to capitalise on the quality aspect. Unlike the high end manufacturers who designed their transfers to fit specific body shapes, most low end manufacturers used pre-made transfers that were freely available from various printers. Not only did these off-the-shelf transfers not always match the body shape, but they were often sold on a non-exclusive basis, meaning that the same decoration could be found on items from different manufacturers.
The second aspect, the desire to compete with (re)decorators, was a direct result of market developments. Too many decoration studios had been set up and good decorators were rare, meaning that most of the work was done well below factory standards. Manufacturers, retailers and distributors therefore reminded customers that good decoration always came at a price, and in some cases cheap studio-decorated wares were presented as bad examples of what to expect when relying on such (re)decoration work.
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