Pottery’s switch aids order book – Not specified – October 2000

Pottery’s switch aids order book

By Paula Tegerdine

Poole Pottery’s order book is up 30 percent on last year after a switch in emphasis from tableware to collectibles.

Fierce competition from tableware producers in the Far East led to the change in direction and the decision is clearly paying off.

Managing director Peter Mills said : “The tableware market is crazily competitive and there is a very cheap end of the market which we can’t compete with.

“If we had stayed only in the tableware market we would have sturggled.

Throughout it’s 130-year history Poole Pottery has reacted to trends. Most recently, Uri Geller, who is a designer as well as a spoon-bender, has agreed to work with the pottery, as has Anne McKevitt of the TV show Homefront.

Mr Mills said ” “Frankly, giftware is so successful we are having to limit what we do with tableware.

“People are now looking for stuff which is collectible as well as usable.”

This year is marking the company’s biggest transformation to date.

Poole Pottery’s manufacturing site is moving out to new, bigger premises off Cabot Lane.

The £3 million move is being funded by a £30 million redevlopment of it’s quay site into a shopping village with restaurants, cafes and luxury flats.

Mr Mills said : “I think Poole is going to be put on the map over the next two years.

“The pottery development has been a catalyst for a lot more things going on and I think there will be a lot more harbourside development.

“You can see a genuine working towards making things happen in the town.”