Crystal maker falls victim to the recession
AFTER 40 years in production, one of Northern Ireland's leading brands, Tyrone Crystal, announced yesterday it was to close with the loss of 31 jobs.
After a series of owners and several rescue attempts over the years, the current management said falling sales of the handmade glasses and giftware made continuing in production impossible.
“The company and its management wish to take this opportunity to thank its loyal workforce for their valued contribution over the years and for their support during this difficult period,” said a spokeswoman for the firm which said attempts to find a buyer for the ailing business had failed.
Based in Dungannon, Tyrone Crystal is part of a tradition going back more than two centuries.
Along with Belleek and Waterford, the firm has also been a popular export as souvenirs for visitors and gifts, particularly to the USA.
In recent years, however, changes in fashion and, most recently, the recession has seen a dramatic fall in demand for fine ornaments and vases.
The firm has also been noted for its trophyware, a market it had failed to capitalise on according to one previous owner.
Marketing pioneer George Priestley was part of a team of three to run the firm for several years in the 90s and yesterday he expressed his sadness at the closure.
“Clearly the market for crystal of the quality of Tyrone, which is top quality, is just shrinking and that is obviously what has happened to them,” he said.
“I was hoping that they would have built up their trophy business and, if you like, their business gift side, rather than rely on wine glasses and decanters and the things that people are not purchasing at the moment.”
“The sad thing about Tyrone Crystal and this goes back a very long time, is that the workforce were brilliant.” he added.
“They’re world class, the glass cutters and the glass blowers and the product was excellent.
“It’s the combination of the market for the product and the recession and I would be very sympathetic towards the workers because they were always of the highest quality.”
Mr Priestley had officially retired when he and two others were asked to hold the firm together while a buyer was found during another difficult period in Tyrone’s history.
“I was asked to come in as Managing Director and we were supposed to be there for six weeks and then the company would be sold, but no buyers ever came and after about 12 weeks I said: ‘Why don’t we just buy it?’”
He said he later stepped down after two years of “very enjoyable, very hard work”.
DUP MLA Lord Morrow said the firm had played a major part in the life of the constituency and would be missed.
"Whilst the problems at Tyrone Crystal were well-documented, everyone had hoped that the company would manage to pull through this current economic downturn and start increasing trade again.
“Unfortunately, the pressure has proven too much and the company has been forced under.”
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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