The Costco Connection - March/April 2008

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Royal Doulton marries

artisanship and tradition

C h_gin _ira_ls

By Stephanie E. Ponder

FOR NEARLY 100 years Royal Doulton has been th e figurines are hand-drawn and -painted. creating pieces for their “Pretty Ladies” series of “We’re in the business of making people feel figurines. With full skirts, engaging poses and good,” Bylin tells The Connection. “I want the giver delicate features, these collectibles are handed and the receiver to feel special.” down from generation to generation.

Royal Doulton has been making
“Pretty Ladies” figurines for nearly
a century. The line includes this
Costco exclusive “Treasured Memories.”

Memories
are made
of this

“If we can get a woman in her 20s to use our Not just another pretty face products, she’ll probably come back as a gift giver It’s important to add that Royal Doulton is in her 30s and 40s,” says Art Bylin, president and equally famous for its fine bone china dinnerware, CEO of Royal Doulton North America. “And she’ll available in Canada for more than half a century. likely recommend Royal Doulton to her daughters Founded in England in 1850, the Royal Doulton and granddaughters.” Company became part of the Waterford/Wedgwood

All figurines are designed at Royal Doulton’s group in 2005 and consists of three brands: Royal facility in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Artists draw Doulton, Royal Albert and Minton. Figurines are their inspiration from current clothing trends, with primarily sold under the Royal Doulton label, while particular attention to styles and co lours that are f ine china wears the Royal Albert label. The Old popular in specific regions. After a piece has C ountry Roses line of dishes, which is part of been designed, a group of artistsand and t he Royal Albert line and has been marketers examine and critique the a round for a century, is the best-selling piece—down to the dress style and l ine of fine china in the world.

colour, hair, nose and even eyelash es. Royal Doulton began sell-Once a design is approved, it’s sent i ng products at Costco ware-to a studio in Thailand where all of houses more than five years ago. “ Your buyers demand quality,” s B ylin tells The Connection. “We u p plier pr_ofilef eel we supply the best of Royal D oulton to Costco—often on an e xclusive basis.”

THIS SPRING COSTCO is offering a new, exclusive Royal Doulton bone china figurine to members: “Treasured Memories.”

Costco assistant buyer Patricia Davies, who works with Royal Doulton to bring the right pieces into the warehouses, says that she sees a strong following of the figurines among members. As Costco is one of the top sellers of the items, she says it only made sense to offer an exclusive item.

While tradition remains a ^Company: ^Royal ^Doultond raw for Royal Doulton’s cus- Number of employees: 8,500 w orldwide ^Old ^Country tomers, Bylin says that the com- Roses is the

Address: Royal Doulton Canada Ltd. ^{pany is looking to offer more}best-selling line

₃₀₅ _Milner _Ave., _Suite ₇₀₀_of _fine _china _in contemporary items to comple- _Toronto, _ON _M1B _3V4_the _world.ment today’s casual lifestyles. This trend includes collabora- ^Telephone: ^{1-800-268-4040}tions with chef Gordon Ramsay and contemporary Web site: www.royaldoulton.com _designer _Monique _Lhuillier.

Items sold at Costco: Royal Doulton fine Another goal is to encourage daily use of china and figurines—including the Costco Royal Doulton’s products. “Our fine china is the exclusive “Treasured Memories”—are most durable stuff we make, so it really should be available at select Costco warehouses. used every day,” Bylin says. “Our message is ‘Life is short; use the good china.’ ” C

“Personally, I was inspired by the ‘Irish Charm’ piece and envisioned something similar to a Scarlett O’Hara photo from Gone with the Wind,” says Davies. “I asked Royal Doulton to remove the shamrocks that were on the original piece and add a rose to her hand. I then asked for a particular colour and a contrast that would make the piece stand out. After a few samples, we arrived at the piece that we will be running for Mother’s Day, and she is exquisite.”