Fiskars Group, the Finnish owners of the Waterford Crystal brand, have announced a temporary reduction in production levels at the House of Waterford on The Mall in Waterford City throughout the month of February.
In a statement issued today, Fiskars declared: “Operations will continue as normal on Thursdays and Fridays and the store will be open all week, as per normal opening hours. This short‑term measure is being taken to address elevated inventory levels in some of our key markets Americas, Australia, UK and Ireland. A total of approximately 65 employees will be affected.
“During the temporary reduction of production at the House of Waterford, factory tours will not be available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout February. However, tours will continue as usual on Thursdays and Fridays during this period. Starting in March, the factory tours will resume their regular schedule, seven days per week.”
The Fiskars Group described the House of Waterford as “a site of key importance to Fiskars Group and Waterford. It serves as a centre for our high‑end crystal production, where mouth‑blown, hand‑cut, sculpted, and engraved pieces are crafted by skilled artisans. These techniques, refined over generations, remain at the heart of Waterford’s identity. This living tradition reflects our commitment to craftsmanship and the House of Waterford’s role in our heritage and operations. We will keep our employees, partners and local stakeholders informed throughout this period.”
Fiskars bought the WWRD group of companies, including Waterford (Crystal), Wedgwood and Royal Doulton, from KPS Capital Partners in May 2015. A significant cohort of the retained workforce on The Mall are South Kilkenny-based.
