Topic: Caithness in Receivership

[daveweight]

I hear that Caithness Glass called in the receivers this afternoon so we will have to wait and see if the company closes or if a new buyer can be found - watch this space !

[Frank]

Oh no!

[daveweight]

If I were a gambling man Frank, I would bet new buyer will be found for the company

[Frank]

I hope so, in the meantime I have asked them if they can dump some photos on me :-)

[ALLAN]

Hi,
   Just to confirm what Dave posted,Caithness was put into administration today.The administrators seem very hopeful that a buyer will be found.This turn of events were not exactly a surprise as Edinburgh Crystal were the major stakeholders in Caithness.There are interested parties in discussions with the receivers about Edinburgh apparently.Time will tell as ever.

[THX1138]

Alas! This is not good news. Memories of Perthshire.

Part of the problem is the lack of paperweight collectors. Due to use of this board, it may seem as if there are a lot of collectors, but when you look at the hits, it's a solid, but small group. We need all collectors to start performing paperweight outreach. Volunteer to give a speech at clubs, churches, and schools. Write free-lance articles for local daily, weekly, and monthy publications and newsletters. Talk about paperweights every chance you get. Show off your collection. This board is good, but more often than not, it's preaching to the choir. Get more people interested and fascinated by paperweights. School children are a perfect target audience. See if you can bring some weights into a classroom.

One of Perthshire's big problems was that due to eBay, Perthshire was ultimately competiting against it's own products and creations. Does one buy online a Caithness (or as it was - a Perthshire) at below market prices or does one buy a new Caithness at retail? EBay is going to turn out to be an interesting conundrum in the future of mid-range paperweights. High-end weights will always have their adherents.

Additionally, cheaply made and cheaply-priced imports do hurt, regardless of where they are made, be it Turkey, Japan, India, China, the U.S., Romania, etc.

I would hope that should Caithness survive, collectors who have none in their collection will purchase a Caithness weight.

More importantly, and because a lot of people have limited resources or are on a budget, Caithness needs to begin a low-priced line of small weights with some interesting detail in them - the kind that can be sold in gift shops and department stores everywhere at a reasonable price. Compete with the cheap imports. It can be done. These weights will pique the interest of impulse buyers - folks looking for a lovely gift of glass with a colorful and mysterious world inside. And collectors can also experience the joy of owning the series.

[Leni]

Does one buy online a Caithness (or as it was - a Perthshire) at below market prices or does one buy a new Caithness at retail?

I only wish there was anywhere near me where I could buy new Caithness weights!  None of the department stores or galleries in my area stock them - or only stock the most basic unlimited editions - which may indeed be part of their problem!  My only source of Caithness weights is direct from Caithness (and IMHO their website leaves much to be desired!), specialist dealers - who obviously add their own mark-up - or ebay!  

When someone buys up Caithness I seriously hope that they will prioritise their marketing strategy, and see to it that Caithness paperweights are far more widely available in provincial stores and galleries!

[ALLAN]

Hi,
   Just a quick post to ask Frank a favour;would you edit the title of this thread to read Caithness in receivership,it is NOT in liquidation.Don't want to spread rumours that aren't true.As I said in a previous post ,the receivers are very hopefull of selling the company as a going concern well before the stage of going into liquidation which would be the end of the company.

[ALLAN]

Thanks Frank

[Frank]

We need all collectors to start performing paperweight outreach. Volunteer to give a speech at clubs, churches, and schools. Write free-lance articles for local daily, weekly, and monthy publications and newsletters. Talk about paperweights every chance you get. Show off your collection.

There is a space available for such articles... currently working on adding a LOT of paperweights but it would be good to add some stories so anyone wanting to get their name in history... http://www.scotlandsglass.com/menCGart.htm <---- Mod: Link dead