Where did it all start than now ended up with this agreement. Was it that successful companies that were leaders in their industry had enough money to buy others that they did not really have expertise in and/or that there were firms that had to make a decision to sell or perish . . . or both?

When was it that brands could rely on the name that had great respect in the public's eyes but with new ownership, the quality did not meet their expectations? Or was it due, in the case of these firms, that the level of product knowledge by professional sales staffs at the retail level morphed into being just clerks under the title of "sales associates?" . . . and not even good at that. Or was it that management saw salespeople as expense items and not assets hence, to cut expenses the salaries and number of salespeople was lowered?

Is it a case of the quality stores (department and speciality) have gone from entrepreneural to being absorbed by conglomerates that changed or closed these stores?

Or, was it a combination of all of the above? And, will it ever revert or should it due to there not being a need for really quality merchandise?

But, it is reality and we cannot change the direction it is going in. However, it opens the doors for new Waterfords, Wedgwoods, Doultons, Rosenthals under names of new creators and family names to take their place.

It is sad for one who sold, proudly, products of all these firms and the other firms acquired by the same group.