Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Television presenter and Stoke-on-Trent ambassador Nick Hancock visited Portmeirion’s factory in the city last week, where the team was delighted to update him on the skills, innovation and quality resources of his local area.
Hancock saw the full manufacturing process of the Botanic Garden ranges, and met many of the 400-plus employees. He also enjoyed a hands-on experience of fitting cup handles and decorating Botanic Garden pieces.
Meanwhile, the company enjoyed an unexpected bit of product placement during news coverage of US President Obama’s visit to London for the G20 summit.
As Portmeirion marketing manager Carol Wright explains, his wife Michelle and the wife of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah, were pictured during a visit to a cancer care centre in London.
“The buzz both locally and from our international markets has been brilliant,” she says. “It seemed as though everybody had recognised that the two first ladies were taking their tea in Portmeirion’s Sophie Conran mugs.”
Portmeirion has profited in a difficult market, and Botanic Garden remains the company’s best-selling range worldwide. The company celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.
