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Wedgwood family speak of 'tragic' demise | Wedgwood family speak of 'tragic' demise |
(about 3 hours later) | |
By Tom Warren BBC News Tom Wedgwood is a direct descendant of Josiah Wedgwood | |
A direct descendant of Josiah Wedgwood has questioned the way the troubled china and ceramics firm has been run. | A direct descendant of Josiah Wedgwood has questioned the way the troubled china and ceramics firm has been run. |
Tom Wedgwood, the seventh generation descendant of the iconic company's founder, said Waterford Wedgwood's current situation was "tragic". | Tom Wedgwood, the seventh generation descendant of the iconic company's founder, said Waterford Wedgwood's current situation was "tragic". |
It has gone into administration after the economic slowdown hit the debt-laden firm. | It has gone into administration after the economic slowdown hit the debt-laden firm. |
Wedgwood, founded in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, has been known as an iconic name in British pottery for 250 years, with many households in the UK owning one or more of its pieces. | Wedgwood, founded in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, has been known as an iconic name in British pottery for 250 years, with many households in the UK owning one or more of its pieces. |
In 1987 Wedgwood merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an Irish-based luxury brands group. | In 1987 Wedgwood merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an Irish-based luxury brands group. |
Mr Wedgwood, who co-owns Newton Industrial Consultants and has been a consultant for Waterford Wedgwood, said the company's most important market now lay in the Far East. | Mr Wedgwood, who co-owns Newton Industrial Consultants and has been a consultant for Waterford Wedgwood, said the company's most important market now lay in the Far East. |
"The crying shame is it's got a very strong brand and there's huge demand for [the chinaware] in Japan and China that [the company] is struggling to meet." | "The crying shame is it's got a very strong brand and there's huge demand for [the chinaware] in Japan and China that [the company] is struggling to meet." |
I live in Stoke and to see it all potentially disappear is tragic Tom Wedgwood | I live in Stoke and to see it all potentially disappear is tragic Tom Wedgwood |
He questioned the decision to move jobs and production from the UK to Indonesia. | He questioned the decision to move jobs and production from the UK to Indonesia. |
In the UK, Waterford Wedgwood still employs 1,900 people - of these, about 600 work in manufacturing at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. | In the UK, Waterford Wedgwood still employs 1,900 people - of these, about 600 work in manufacturing at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. |
"My concern is that you go and talk to people in Japan and if they know that the [products] aren't made in the UK, they won't buy them. | "My concern is that you go and talk to people in Japan and if they know that the [products] aren't made in the UK, they won't buy them. |
"There's a question over whether we have lost something by not having stuff visibly made in Stoke. | "There's a question over whether we have lost something by not having stuff visibly made in Stoke. |
"This issue hasn't come out of the blue, Waterford Wedgwood has been struggling for some time - people don't buy big dinner sets as much as they used to. | "This issue hasn't come out of the blue, Waterford Wedgwood has been struggling for some time - people don't buy big dinner sets as much as they used to. |
Business 'needs attention' | Business 'needs attention' |
"But the prestige-ware business has grown over the last five years and that's frustrating. | "But the prestige-ware business has grown over the last five years and that's frustrating. |
"There's no reason why there shouldn't be a very reasonable business. Each individual [part of the] business, I don't think, has had the attention it needed." | "There's no reason why there shouldn't be a very reasonable business. Each individual [part of the] business, I don't think, has had the attention it needed." |
He said other Stoke-based chinaware firms such as Steelite had prospered in recent years. | He said other Stoke-based chinaware firms such as Steelite had prospered in recent years. |
Mr Wedgwood, who has 15 years of experience in manufacturing industries, said his family had not been directly involved in the running of Waterford Wedgwood for the past 60 years. | Mr Wedgwood, who has 15 years of experience in manufacturing industries, said his family had not been directly involved in the running of Waterford Wedgwood for the past 60 years. |
But he said they felt frustrated at the current state of the firm. | But he said they felt frustrated at the current state of the firm. |
"It has hit the family like you would expect. We're annoyed at the way things have turned out and it could have been very different. | "It has hit the family like you would expect. We're annoyed at the way things have turned out and it could have been very different. |
"I live in Stoke and to see it all potentially disappear is tragic." | "I live in Stoke and to see it all potentially disappear is tragic." |
Wedgwood was founded in Stoke-on-Trent 250 years ago | Wedgwood was founded in Stoke-on-Trent 250 years ago |
Mr Wedgwood's wife Alison, a former Labour parliamentary candidate, said "bad marketing" was behind some of the company's problems. | Mr Wedgwood's wife Alison, a former Labour parliamentary candidate, said "bad marketing" was behind some of the company's problems. |
But she said she thought there could be a bright future for Waterford Wedgwood. | But she said she thought there could be a bright future for Waterford Wedgwood. |
Brand consultant Robert Jones, of Wolff Olins, believes the company should stop trading on its heritage and instead concentrate on innovation. | Brand consultant Robert Jones, of Wolff Olins, believes the company should stop trading on its heritage and instead concentrate on innovation. |
But Mrs Wedgwood said that would be "bad advice". | But Mrs Wedgwood said that would be "bad advice". |
"In-built in Wedgwood is the history, that's what the Asian market is buying." | "In-built in Wedgwood is the history, that's what the Asian market is buying." |
Sir Anthony O'Reilly, non-executive chairman of Waterford Wedgwood, said the board had "acted tirelessly in its efforts to resolve the company's issues as a going concern". | Sir Anthony O'Reilly, non-executive chairman of Waterford Wedgwood, said the board had "acted tirelessly in its efforts to resolve the company's issues as a going concern". |
"The principal shareholders have invested in support of this business for almost 20 years. | "The principal shareholders have invested in support of this business for almost 20 years. |
"We are consoled only by the fact that everything that could have been done, by management and by the board, to preserve the group, was done." | "We are consoled only by the fact that everything that could have been done, by management and by the board, to preserve the group, was done." |
Deloitte has been appointed as administrator to seek buyers for different parts of the company. | Deloitte has been appointed as administrator to seek buyers for different parts of the company. |
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