30 days to save Wedgwood?
WORKERS have been told production will continue for a month at Wedgwood – but its future depends on finding a buyer.
Administrator Deloitte held meetings with staff yesterday, after being called in by the ailing pottery, and told them it would be business as usual when they return from a prolonged Christmas break on Monday.
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But workers leaving the Barlaston plant said manufacturing is only guaranteed for a month unless investment is found, leaving 1,000 North Staffordshire employees on tenterhooks.
A Deloitte spokesman confirmed they have held talks with one potential buyer and it is thought at least two more have shown interest.
A Wedgwood worker, who did not want to be identified, said: "They told us we've got a month guaranteed but they can only promise our jobs for those four weeks of production, after that who knows? They've also warned us that our wages could be late next week."
Community leaders hope investment can be found so 250 years of Wedgwood manufacturing can continue, and it is understood the three unidentified investors are interested in the majority of its assets.
A Deloitte spokesman said: "There has been one particular discussion with an interested party and there have been additional expressions of interest that have since been received, but we are not revealing details."
Waterford Wedgwood called in administrators after six years of loss-making in which the group has racked up debts of almost £400 million.
Alison Wedgwood, whose husband Tom is the great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of founder Josiah Wedgwood, believes a buyer could make a success out of Josiah's legacy if they followed in his footsteps – producing quality ceramics in Barlaston.
Mrs Wedgwood, aged 38, of Barlaston Road, Cocknage, said: "If any new buyers concentrate on producing prestige Wedgwood products in Staffordshire and get their marketing right they will succeed."
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by Archimedes, Stoke
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 6:44PM
“Bruce, Stoke-on-Trent
The people in Indonesia from what I have read are not at risk (surprise) and if you know so much, where were you when your business skills were needed, thought so pontificating in the pub.”
by Bruce, Stoke-on-Trent
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 3:42PM
“people who don't know anything about the ceramics industry should stop with unhelpful comments, the 75% reduction in the market argument made ealier dosn't make any sense.
Also how quick the media forgets that last year Royal Doulton was ranked number 6 in the worlds superbrands, and also research shows that the only people who care about "Made in England" are the english, please prove that foreign goods are of poorer quality? this is a xenophobic attitude of disgruntled workers or stokies who think they know more about running a business than the people actually running it. I'm specifically thinking of people like the wedgewood decendents that have been dug out of the wood work. and idiots like caudwell who always used to chine in whenever Royal doulton was in the local papers, what does that idiot know about manufacturing? he's a reseller for crying out loud.
Seculation helps no-one focus on saving jobs, fact is the people in indonesia who may lose there jobs are going to a lot worse off.”
by Nick, Meir, Stoke
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 4:21AM
“Wedgwood is/was the beacon of the british pottery and ceramics industry.. however over recent years it has sent more and more production over seas in a bit to cut costs but has this realy saved Wedgwood....obviously not.. When people buy Wedgwood they expect to buy a quality product from the beacon of world ceramics and contracting out production in my opinion has led to the demise of Wedgwood. I hope that somone buys Wedgwood and keeps production in the UK saving 100's of jobs and makes Wedgwood the iconic brand that it once was....”
by TODD ROWE, Stratford, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 2:47AM
“My wife and I now run her family business ( her great grandfather started in 1895). Since 1895 our company has traveled FAITHFULLY to Stoke On Trent to buy from the many many potters there. In the eighties during my first trip over, my father- in- law and I would discuss in great detail the state of the pottery trade in Stoke. We talked about the fact that Royal Doulton and Wedgwood ,during the sixties , seventies and eighties, were buying up all the smaller potteries and closing them down. Why? GREED and STUPIDITY. They wanted to be the kings . They ( upper management) thought that as long as an item had their back stamp, the world would line up to buy it. These two companies have done more damage to pottery trade in Stoke with their arrogant and selfish attitudes than any other sources they are faced with now. Where are these kings today?”
by JB, Alberta, Canada
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 2:11AM
“The man from Wisconsin hits the nail on the head.
The reason the pottery market flourished in the US is the ideal that it came from an old fashioned town in little old England and was made in factories that were older than most of the cities in the US itself.
Same applies up here. Hopefully a shrewd businessman picks it up at a bargain and returns it to its roots.”