 Most of us will have been at least vaguely aware for some time that there are disruptions in almost every part of worldwide supply chains. There are continuing severe shortages in all areas of production of goods including scarcity of raw materials such as timber, metals, wool, all types of food and rising energy, labour and transport which in turn have caused a shortage of many goods and driven up prices.
The production of Polish ceramic goods is not sheltered from these problems. Unfortunately, you will be noticing considerable price hikes over the coming weeks and months as every aspect of our business experiences escalating prices including huge cost increases in obtaining stock from our suppliers and transporting it from Poland. I’ve never been one of those people that somehow is always ahead of the pack, knows what new trend is coming, a fashion leader, a workplace leader, or any other leader, embracing every sniff of change with open arms. I guess I’ve just wandered off into my own little world and done my own thing in a way that seems good to me. And so as customers have asked me over the past couple of years how things are going I’ve politely and briefly explained a few of the ups and downs of doing business in an atypical manner during such turbulent times but not felt too fazed about most of it. (Just sometimes annoyed at the nanny-state treatment). I’ve been totally out of Nicholas Mosse stock since Christmas but as Polish crockery has always been the mainstay of the business that hasn’t really mattered. I should have been paying closer attention. I know that the number of places within Australia where Polish Pottery has been available for purchase has been declining. New customers have told me about shops where they first purchased pieces but either the business no longer exists or no longer stocks Boleslawiec. I spoke at length to a man browsing in the shop who told me he imports and distributes a large range of goods but nothing European because the cost makes it unviable. Over the years I’ve tried to minimise expenses so that even as the principal cost - the cost of acquiring the crockery- gradually climbed I was able to minimise our price rises. I’ve been conscious for years that generally incomes have not increased even when the cost of living has. We weathered the first couple of COVID affected years okay because of the very long lead times for obtaining new stock but this just delayed the effects of what has been happening worldwide. It’s tricky trying to find the fine point of balance between under-pricing and therefore pricing yourself out of business and over-pricing and therefore pricing yourself out of business. I guess this is where many small businesses come unstuck. Please be assured that whether you’re able to buy one simple mug or a whole dinner set of intricately patterned pieces, we’re doing our best to bring you a very high quality product and a fair price.
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