WWRD Has 'One Company' Vision for Waterford Wedgwood
By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 4/8/2009 12:54:00 PM
Wall, NJ — With the completion of its purchase of certain assets of Waterford Wedgwood Plc (together with all subsidiaries Waterford Wedgwood), WWRD Holdings plans to build upon the rich history of the combined brands and move the business forward as one company. Responding to inquiries from Gifts & Decorative Accessories as to how the purchase and new ownership would affect the future direction of the U.S. part of the business, Lou Scala, WWRD Holdings Ltd. group vice-president–Americas, said in a statement, “The KPS investment has created unique and additional opportunities for WWRD Holdings Limited to build upon the rich history and popularity of the brands within the U.S. and Canada. In addition to improving our efficiencies, our new ‘One Company’ vision will be the cornerstone behind our efforts to build and enhance our brands in a complementary manner that simultaneously satisfies the needs of our customers and consumers.”
To Scala's statement, Michael Craig, vice president–marketing for WWRD Holdings Ltd., added, “The funding provided by KPS will allow us to pursue creative new product development initiatives, supported by aggressive and relevant marketing campaigns. The new ‘One Company’ vision will create synergies within the U.S. marketing division that will enable the company to better communicate to consumers the core values of all our brands and products – and ultimately, increase our brand loyalty and market share."
Buyers will be able to shop WWRD's Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton product lines at the upcoming New York Tabletop Market, April 21–24.
Waterford Wedgwood are doomed to fail if they purdue the strategy that the former owners followed, ie outsourcing high quality English ceramics from low wage cost countrys.
The former management sent 80% of the groups output to the far east and they still could not turn a profit so how are these lot going to do it? with more of the same.
Who wants to buy English traditional or modern Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Masons Ironstone, Coalport etc etc made in the far east.
No, they should be concentrating on the history and integrity of the brands and producing them where they should be, in the home of fine ceramics Stoke-on_Trent, England.
Get the marketing right and people will buy even at the 'only slightly' higher price needed.
One only has to look at those companies in Stoke-on-Trent who are still there and who are successful.
Emma Bridgwater.
Portmerion
Moorland Pottery
Dudson
Steelite
Churchill
and many many more.
Sadly I dont think KPS or WWRD will take notice and sadly, after maybe a small surge, the Waterford Wedgwood bussiness will continue to go downhill.
Hope i'm wrong on that last comment, but time will tell.
Allen hanley - 2009-04-10 06:35:00 EDT
The former management sent 80% of the groups output to the far east and they still could not turn a profit so how are these lot going to do it? with more of the same.
Who wants to buy English traditional or modern Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Masons Ironstone, Coalport etc etc made in the far east.
No, they should be concentrating on the history and integrity of the brands and producing them where they should be, in the home of fine ceramics Stoke-on_Trent, England.
Get the marketing right and people will buy even at the 'only slightly' higher price needed.
One only has to look at those companies in Stoke-on-Trent who are still there and who are successful.
Emma Bridgwater.
Portmerion
Moorland Pottery
Dudson
Steelite
Churchill
and many many more.
Sadly I dont think KPS or WWRD will take notice and sadly, after maybe a small surge, the Waterford Wedgwood bussiness will continue to go downhill.
Hope i'm wrong on that last comment, but time will tell.
This is just the 'same old, same old" story. The only thing that is new is
that there is "new money"! The cast of characters are still the same with
regards that they could not drive sales and create product. With the
limited number of doors and the channels of distribution shrinking
where can they get sales for revenue? Let's see Waterford and
Wedgewood of Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Poland or China. Oh that
makes all the difference. Good luck guys.
George Gravis - 2009-04-09 14:45:00 EDT
that there is "new money"! The cast of characters are still the same with
regards that they could not drive sales and create product. With the
limited number of doors and the channels of distribution shrinking
where can they get sales for revenue? Let's see Waterford and
Wedgewood of Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Poland or China. Oh that
makes all the difference. Good luck guys.
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