http://www.burnleytoday.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=12&articleid=1307442
Published Date: 09 January 2006
Location: Burnley
A WORLD famous Burnley company – Pendelfin Studios – has announced the sad news that it is to close its factory in the town.
Fourteen workers will be made redundant when the company ceases production from its base at Briercliffe Business Centre on March 31st, with bosses citing falling demand and cheaper competition from the Far East as behind the closure.
The popular manufacturer of collectables has been supplying the world from its Burnley home since 1953 when it was set up by Miss Jean Walmsley Heap and Mrs Jeannie Todd. Pendelfin was based for many years at Cameron Mills in Howsin Street.
Mr Nicholas Frankish, managing director, told the Express: "We regretfully have to announce that the Briercliffe-based manufacturing centre will close at the end of March.
"This is very sad news for all our workers, many of whom have devoted their working lives to Pendelfin, but sadly demand for the product has fallen.
"Changing trends in the market have meant that we cannot sustain the manufacturing side of the company. In terms of investment, advertising and marketing we could not have done more, but sadly this has not resulted in an upturn in demand."
The sad decline of the company, which produced the world famous Pendelfin rabbits, means that a distribution warehouse in Newcastle remains the country's only remaining site. Mr Frankish said that manufacturing of the figures will now solely be done in China.
Mr Frankish added: "All our workers will receive redundancy packages. They were shocked when we announced the closure, but not entirely surprised. Demand has been falling for the last two years, but Pendelfin will continue to exist."
Pendelfin figures and plaques still regularly fetch large amounts of money at auctions around the country. In November Burnley Football Club director and property magnate Mr John Sullivan paid £2,000 for an illustration for the dust jacket of "Dingleflop Chimes".
It seems though that cheaper competition in the Far East has been the death knell for this well-loved Burnley institution, which has now gone the same way as several businesses in the town in the last year.
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