Diamond Jubilee to give pottery firm a right Royal boost
POTTERY firm Emma Bridgewater has unveiled its new range to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The Hanley-based manufacturer is expecting to sell at least £1 million of commemorative ceramic ware, making it even more successful than last year's Royal Wedding range.
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SALES EXPECTANCY: Matthew Rice.
High-profile retailers including John Lewis, Harrods and Fortnum and Mason have already increased their orders.
Director Matthew Rice, who is married to company founder Emma Bridgewater, said: "We will definitely sell £1 million worth of the pottery, perhaps more, which represents eight per cent of what we will make this year, so it's really significant.
"All the key stockists have increased their order – John Lewis four-fold, Harrods six-fold.
"The jubilee is a quintessentially English event, and the fact that it's made here feels appropriate; there are plenty of people making it abroad."
The range includes mugs, bowls, plates and even a ceramic crown decorated with slogans including 'Sixty Years a Queen' and 'Steadfast and True'.
The company has already sold 7,500 themed tea towels and other non-ceramic items include aprons and tea caddies.
Mr Rice added: "Our stuff appeals to people who aren't necessarily looking for the traditional gilt and swags – they want something with a bit of humour. It's respectful but not deferential."
Emma Bridgewater, which employs around 180 people at its Lichfield Street factory, has created commemorative ware for every Royal occasion for the past 25 years and the Diamond Jubilee range is its biggest ever.
Earlier this week Emma was named as one of 23 new Government manufacturing 'champions'.
She said: "It was only three or four years ago that we noticed that 'Made in England' was beginning to carry some weight.
"The key thing is to improve the image of manufacturing, when you ask children what they want to go into not one of them says manufacturing and we need to change that.
"Young people need to feel there is a future in the industry, we can't guarantee we will be here in 40 years' time, but we will damn well try.
"Manufacturing is inherently creative and it needs teamwork, which are two very satisfying ways of working."
5 Comments
by MrEneoda
Monday, February 27 2012, 8:17AM
“nikki4444 - I tend to agree - much of what is produced at this small pottery is very basic and nothing that you can't get from any craft enterprise anywhere else in the UK .... but at least it's a few day-rate unskilled jobs for the mass-ranks eh!
£8m turnover this year .... when you think Doulton's turnover was £250m in the early 1990's ... before the failed merger with Mikasa in the USA and a thousand other things that led to its demise ('off-shoring' not being one of them - 'not outsourcing' as Doulton's own the factory).
Mr Wivens ..... I worked at Royal Doulton for 11 years and take your point on the origin of the produt - mind you, I never bought the stuff when i worked there .... (it's Indonesia by the way .... very nice factory outside Jakarta producing very good quality products .... never been to Jakarta? .... their city-centre makes Stoke look like a third world country ... and that was before RENEW's attempt at recreating ground-zero) ....”
by nikki4444
Monday, February 27 2012, 1:29AM
“I know Emma Bridgewater is successful, but really the pottery designed & produced does seem rather primitive compared to the fabulous pottery we once had.....
I took my daughter around the Potteries Museum a few weeks ago, the demise of our talented potters really saddens.....”
by Jenhol22
Saturday, February 25 2012, 11:46PM
“Good on her, keep it up you are making a name for yourself, snaphappy111, she did what she had to do, its a business not a charity, and she is successful and flies the flag for Stoke, be proud not critical”
by E_D_Wivens
Saturday, February 25 2012, 11:28AM
“At least Emma Bridgwater are still making the stuff here, and employing local people, redundancies notwithstanding. I haven't bought a piece of Doulton since they closed Nile Street, and it sticks in my craw to see the stuff being sold with Made in Malaysia, Indonesia or some other godforsaken place. How they are still allowed to call themselves "Royal" Doulton staggers me.
How many people are going to buy Jubilee souvenirs without checking where they are made? The Royal Wedding souvenirs that flooded the shops and stalls last year were largely made in China or other such far-flung places.”
by snaphappy111
Saturday, February 25 2012, 10:34AM
“How many people did she make redundant last year?”