The end "might be" nigh for Johnsons

[Tile Shop]

Looks like Johnsons Tiles are having a bit of a rude awakening. 90 jobs to go in Stoke. Restructuring is a shady way of saying they're losing money hand over fist and can't afford to keep staff on IMO.

Quality has gone down a quite a bit in recent years and they've had a few manufacturing issues, but looks like they are changing some of their formats, so maybe they'll get better???? or maybe they won't.

JOHNSON TILES TO SHED 90 JOBS IN RESTRUCTURING MOVE - Tilezine - http://www.tilezine.co.uk/johnson-tiles-shed-90-jobs-restructuring-move/

 

[Tile Shop]

Anyway..... it says:

"Johnson Tiles, one of the UK’s last remaining volume tile manufacturers, has announced a major restructuring programme.

A statement released to the local media by parent company Norcros Group (Holdings) Ltd., states that around 90 jobs will be lost as part of the restructuring. The company based in Tunstall, Stoke, employs about 400 people at the site. It was reported locally that the staff were informed this week that nearly a quarter of the workforce were to lose their jobs.

The company says it is starting a 30 day consultation process, concerning the job losses, and it expects this to be completed by 7 April.

Industry sources suggest that the restructuring is part of a five-year programme to readdress the tile formats and sizes manufactured at Tunstall, leading the company in the short term to reduce its manufacturing capacity and increase the number of tiles being bought in from overseas.

Johnson Tiles is the largest remaining UK manufacturer of ceramic tiles, with a manufacturing history in Tunstall going back to 1901. Today the company offers a full range of ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and glass tiles to markets at home and overseas. However it announced a 9 per cent drop in sales turnover last year.

The Chairman of the Tunstall Chamber of Trade described the announcement as a “major blow” for the town.

Sister company, Norcros Adhesives, which is based on the same site, is unaffected by the changes at Johnson Tiles."

 

[Ian]

If they keep churning out poor quality products, these things are bound to happen. My kitchen splash back at home is done in their poppy red 300x100mm ceramics and the amount of flaws in the glaze is shocking, out of 100 tiles I'd say at least 30 of them have something wrong with them, some more noticeable than others. Half a dozen were unusable as the defects were so prominent.

 

[Rookery]

It would be interesting to know just how many they do actually make in Stoke these days. I get the feeling most are imported already.

 

[Dan]

I think Walls only about 15 years ago. So maybe not even most of those by now.

 

[One Day]

The loss of poor quality tiles is no loss.
In my opinion.

 

[Andy Allen]

90 people out of work is never a nice thing to here about though...

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

there decline started many years ago when they moved part of there production
to Italy it been down ever since

 

[Andy Allen]

Never trust them italians.
They can't even make enough sigmas...

 

[Italy]

ouch!!!!
andy wrong, we manufacture everything for everyone.

 

[Just Rizzle]

fixed some of there 600 x 300 white a few weeks ago one edge was square the other was at a slight angle poor quality. also when you scored the glaze it flaked so not good they need serious quality up grade or they will go the same as pilkingtons