Tuesday, February 3, 2009
WATERFORD-WEDGWOOD
There may be hope that Waterford will continue in business. Clarion Capital, a U.S. buyout firm, made an offer to the government and union leaders that is said to include reopening the plant in Waterford, Ireland. Another U.S. buyout offer is for the brand name only and would keep the Irish factory closed. Workers staged a sit-in at the factory last weekend when the factory closed and they were locked out.
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5 comments:
I've bought Waterford for years and been to the factory in Waterford several times. I've seen Waterford buying up crystal factories in England and Eastern Europe and watched the designs available to the public in catalogs just tank. Greed is probably at the bottom of Waterford's troubles. Wanting to grow but not staying true to the high standards that consumers expected from the world's most recognized brand name. A return to the high quality crystal MADE IN IRELAND would be most welcome. Otherwise, why bother to bail the company out?
I agree - instead of cheapening the Waterford name and products by having them made elsewhere, they need to just raise the price if need be and keep making them IN IRELAND! I'm hoping the product line has not been too damaged by having had them made overseas in the last couple of years.
Waterford's tradition of never completely discontinuing a design is as important to purchasers as its tradition of high quality. It insures against loss of a critical piece or two in a set acquired either with a single investment or over time. This closing jeopardizes that guarantee of availability. While it may actually increase the value of existing Waterford pieces, it hurts customers in the long run. Let's hope the company and its Irish plant is rescued.
I worked in a Waterford-Wedgwood outlet and watched as Waterford cheapened their product line and did little of what they were know for.. Quality crystal handblown.Adding the Marquis line did nothing to improve their image. I might add the same for Wedgwood who had many products made in Japan and elsewhere.
I am a dealer in glassware for 40 years and the idea that people are just consumers of anything made anywhere at the whim of macro business interests is a false notion and is doomed to cause the prolonged death of a wonderful old and treasured company. Waterford is Irish from Ireland and people will pay for good craftsmanship from well paid workers in Ireland, if you please. We don't want stuff made in China.
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