The Staffordshire pottery industry and its worldwide markets with special reference to the nineteenth century
This thesis sets out to shew the inherent weaknesses which developed as the Staffordshire Pottery industry grew and which led to its comparative decline in the closing decades of the nineteenth century, in the face of the growing industrialised economies of the U.S.A., Germany and France. The industry reflected Britain's expansion of trade, and the growth of a free enterprise economy, with high capital accumulation. However, by mid-century the industry shewed signs of decline. The weaknesses were firstly a large dependence on the American market which made it vulnerable to financial and political crises in that country, which caused sharp vacillations in trade. Secondly a home economy that was stagnating as the British industrial revolution was ageing and thirdly the challenge of the scientific revolution in Germany and the U.S.A.which made them formidable trade rivals. The fourth weakness in the Staffordshire Pottery industry was that the thrusting entrepreneurial generation ofWedgwood, Minton, Spode and others had not been replaced by equal talent in their successors. The industry lacked vigorous marketing techniques with direct communication with management, capable of reacting swiftly to change to the
Booth, Pauline R.
History
The Staffordshire pottery industry and its worldwide markets with special reference to the nineteenth century. This thesis sets out to shew the inherent weaknesses which developed as the Staffordshire Pottery industry grew and which led to its comparative decline in the closing decades of the nineteenth century, in the face of the growing industrialised economies of the U.S.A., Germany and France. The industry reflected Britain's expansion of trade, and the growth of a free enterprise economy, with high capital accumulation. However, by mid-century the industry shewed signs of decline. The weaknesses were firstly a large dependence on the American market which made it vulnerable to financial and political crises in that country, which caused sharp vacillations in trade. Secondly a home economy that was stagnating as the British industrial revolution was ageing and thirdly the challenge of the scientific revolution in Germany and the U.S.A.which made them formidable trade rivals. The fourth weakness in the Staffordshire Pottery industry was that the thrusting entrepreneurial generation ofWedgwood, Minton, Spode and others had not been replaced by equal talent in their successors. The industry lacked vigorous marketing techniques with direct communication with management, capable of reacting swiftly to change to the
staffordshire pottery_industry worldwide market special_reference set inherent weakness develop staffordshire pottery industry grow lead comparative decline closing decade face grow industrialised economy usa germany france industry reflect britain expansion trade growth free enterprise economy high capital accumulation however mid_century industry sign decline weakness firstly large dependence american market make vulnerable financial_political crisis country cause sharp trade secondly home economy stagnate british industrial_revolution age thirdly challenge scientific_revolution germany make formidable trade rival fourth weakness staffordshire pottery industry thrust entrepreneurial generation others replace equal talent successor industry lack vigorous marketing technique direct communication management capable react swiftly change