Waterford Crystal's Main Competitors?

Gamer Bhoy 89

Waterford Crystal just happened to come up in a conversation and we both pondered the question, what other company would be considered as Waterford Crystal's "competition" in glass-making?

There are so many other companies like Edinburgh, Galway, Tyrone etc.

I couldn't find a fact anywhere while searching on google.

Anyone know?

cazwhatever

Penrose Crystal maybe? Not sure if they are big competition but they are based in Waterford too.

Gamer Bhoy 89

cazwhatever wrote: »

Penrose Crystal maybe? Not sure if they are big competition but they are based in Waterford too.

Funnily enough I asked someone in work just 10 minutes ago and he said the same thing. I forgot about Penrose completely

ToxicPaddy

There is also Heritage Crystal who are based in Waterford

cococoady

There's a company called Emerald Crystal over in the Northern Extension.

There's Criostal na Rinne down in Ring aswell.

Deise67

Lads they are all mickey mouse ! Your looking at riedel crystal, nachtmanns, rcr. Few more I can't remember ! What's produced on the mall while welcome from a tourism point of view is small change as regards numbers ! Back in the day there were 3 auto stemlines in kilbarry capable of producing 270 stems an hour each, 24/7 as they say do the math ! The good old days !

afee_wils81

Deise67 wrote: »

Lads they are all mickey mouse ! Your looking at riedel crystal, nachtmanns, rcr. Few more I can't remember ! What's produced on the mall while welcome from a tourism point of view is small change as regards numbers ! Back in the day there were 3 auto stemlines in kilbarry capable of producing 270 stems an hour each, 24/7 as they say do the math ! The good old days !

Heritage Irish Crystal is not Mickey Mouse. It is genuinely hand made and the only company still in Ireland making by hand!!!! Their quality is far superior to anything Waterford can offer. :mad::mad::mad:

Deise67

I was not talking about quality, I assumed the op ment competition, if you think what's down the mall is supplying global demand for WC you may need a rethink ! Heritage is not a major global crystal supplier unfortunately, by the way I'm not out to dis any local company, a question was asked I supplied an answer !

Marymoll

afee_wils81 wrote: »

Heritage Irish Crystal is not Mickey Mouse. It is genuinely hand made and the only company still in Ireland making by hand!!!! Their quality is far superior to anything Waterford can offer. :mad::mad::mad:

What about the Irish Handmade Glass company out the back of city square ? their all ex crystal employee's and I have often passed on way to motor tax office and stopped up for a look at them working away all hand made, and unique little piece's, nice and colorful too ! found this link on Google but am sure their on the facebook too ! http://theirishhandmadeglasscompany.com/

Theres actually a few nice places in that area, botton & co are in the same building and theirs an artist there too i think !

Hoffmans

so how much of the house of wc stuff is actually made in ireland?

Finnbar01

Tipperary Crystal?

Wasn't that compnay set up by ex Waterford Glass lads?

Marymoll

Finnbar01 wrote: »

Tipperary Crystal?

Wasn't that compnay set up by ex Waterford Glass lads?

Dont think it was set up by them, but do remember few ex crystal fellas took it over a few years ago !

sandin

Hoffmans wrote: »

so how much of the house of wc stuff is actually made in ireland?

almost none.

In fact I don't think any "irish" crystal is made in Ireland however as some of them cut pre-made items here, they can claim its made here as value has been added to it.

as for competition - the whole market has changed - glassware is now bought for using everyday whereas Waterford crystal was for special occasions.

A standard wine glass can be bought in Ikea for 33c - and its not bad. Who cares if you break it as the cost is low.

On the premium end, Edinburgh crystal and many European brands are out there, but Waterford still holds its name above most, but its now a very small market.

The specialist small producers as mentioned above have taken a lot of the bespoke large ticket market as they are set up for specialisation and individual pieces - they'll e very valuable to their owners and the small workforce they have, but the market is no longer there to size these operations up. - But why would they want to?

Trick of the Tail

'Waterford Crystal' in it's current incarnation is just a con-job for the tourists really.

Nothing originates in Waterford and only the odd showpiece is cut here.

It's not even a Waterford company, isn't it Dutch? 'House of Waterford Crystal' or something? With the building etc practically given to them by the council.

The situation surrounding it is scandalous really. Tourists must be so pleased to buy a piece of 'Waterford Crystal', then get it home to find it has a seam around it and a sticker that says 'made in Poland'.

Deise67

its a necessary evil for the want of a better phrase. the company that bought the brand to make money out of a global brand, they don't give a toss about waterford or it economy ! if it wasn't for the foresight of Michael Walsh & a few more the entire enity would have been lost to the city forever ! no tourist buses the viking triangle may or may not have happened. so we have the house of waterford suppose we can only hope it grows again like the waterford glass of old , a pipe dream maybe who knows ! but as one of many people who lost a lot when wc closed we need ever bit of business we can get !

Finnbar01

Also bear (bare?) in mind that crystal in general is gone out of fashion.... well according to the chap on: Cash in the attic anyway.