A cordial welcome from MEISSEN®!
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
Honourable Friend of the MEISSEN® Manufactory,
The year 2011 was a particularly crucial
one for us, firstly because our tercentenary celebrations the year before had done
so much for our growth and, secondly, because one of our principal
international sales markets - Japan
- suffered such a dreadful environmental catastrophe in 2011. We nevertheless succeeded in stabilising the 2010 turnover in 2011.
Our new “MEISSEN® Joaillerie”
business segment was instrumental in bringing this about. Our collection of
high-quality jewellery was very well received by our customers, as was our range
of accessories in silk (ties, neckerchiefs and scarves).
Despite the constraints to which our key
market in Japan
is still subject, we are approaching 2012 with a great deal of optimism. We have
thought up numerous innovations in all three of our business segments for the
coming year, innovations with which we hope to surprise the markets and take
our transformation into one of Germany’s
leading luxury and lifestyle corporations further forward.
We will be kicking off in the first quarter
by presenting our new jewellery collection, which is sure to take a lot of
people by surprise, at the world’s largest jewellery and timepiece trade fair
held in Basle. It is our wish that this will serve
to consolidate the process of international expansion we have initiated via
selected firms of jewellers.A further highlight will be the
inauguration of Villa MEISSEN® in Milan
in April 2012, where we will be presenting our new MEISSEN® HOME collection. We
are convinced you will wax lyrical over the luminaires and furnishings on
display along with our home textiles and, of course, our exclusive wall and
floor coverings for bathrooms, kitchens, lounges and bedrooms. It almost goes
without saying that porcelain will figure prominently, too.
Another business segment that, naturally enough, will continue to be of great importance to us is MEISSEN® Fine Art. In tandem with our popular traditional artworks for collectors and investors, we were able last year to welcome over 12,000 patrons to the debut exhibition of our MEISSEN® artCAMPUS in Leipzig and in this way make a successful return to the sphere of contemporary art. 2012 will see us further developing our unique global standing in the field of premium sculptural art in porcelain.
If, Honourable Friend of the Manufactory, we manage with your loyalty and help to complete the next phase in our transformation in 2012, the MEISSEN® Manufactory will have acquired three sturdy pillars to stand on in future - possibly for the first time in its history - thus allowing it to shine forth for Saxony and Germany all over the world once again. Just as it did under Augustus the Strong 300 years ago.
Cordial Regards,
Dr Christian Kurtzke
Chief Executive Officer
