RTE might be showing this movie next Christmas, or should that be Halloween. Sir Anthony O'Reilly has resigned from the board of Waterford Wedgwood, which incorporates the subsidiary of Waterford Crystal. In case you're unaware of the current situation, Waterford Crystal are in a bad place right now. A pack of administrators, receivers, boogey men... have stepped in to see whats to be done with the company and workforce. The general consensus is, unless a buyer can be found, the whole lot will fold.
I think Waterford' should have tried an Apple marketing scheme a long time ago. Some kind of "Drink Different" slogan with flashy add's that gave the impression "unless you buy our product, you're a fucking retard." They could have had a whole line of iGoblets, iVases, iTumblers and iFlutes. Trying to raise sales via dying art forms like ballet was a total waste of time. They needed to do like Apple and appeal to the dregs. They tried this low level advertising at Christmas for their Clear Crystal range. Sadly, way too little and way too late.
All that said, not much you can do with an over valued currency like the Euro. Ireland is just a bad place to be making stuff right now. Is Paddy Power taking bets on which manufacturing companies will go next? What odds would I get on Dell staying here? I see a lot of black Mondays coming in 2009. Yay!
addendum: Look at these Waterford Crystal flutes designed by John Rocha, aren't they fucking beautiful? I think I might get me a pair to sip my coke out of. Have you ever seen these advertised anywhere? Why weren't there adds for these during Coronation Street add-breaks every night? Pride! "Waterford' is too good for the likes of Corrie watchers". They badly needed a Michael O'Leary in there, with a low brow advertising blitz campaign. Luxury goods me hole! Sell them in Dunnes and Tesco! Darwin: "adapt or die".
The Waterford Wedgewood business collapse, has even made a big splash on our local news.
ReplyDelete