Retailers are seeking urgent clarification after Crown Imperial and its distributor Waterline issued contradictory statements regarding the company's operations.
© Crown Imperial
On 4 September, Waterline staff reportedly informed retailers that Crown had closed its factory, employees were entering redundancy talks, and no new orders could be placed. Waterline CEO Michael Marriott also stated the company was "beginning a process of seeking external investment to secure the future of the business."
However, the next day, Crown Imperial managing director Barry Head insisted the factory remained "fully operational" and the company had not ceased trading. No details were provided on how kitchens could be distributed without Waterline or how incoming orders could be fulfilled.
Retailers report receiving no direct communication from either company and are concerned about fulfilling existing orders. One unnamed retailer described the situation as confusing and said it was impossible to know what to communicate to customers. Best For Bathrooms & Kitchens in Orkney highlighted the practical challenges of delivering kitchens without a distribution partner.
Industry sources stress that resolving this uncertainty is crucial to avoid disruptions for dealers, staff, and clients. kbbreview has requested further comment from Crown Imperial and Waterline.
Source: www.kbbreview.com
