Profits fall at Blackburn wallpaper firm Graham and Brown (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Excellent Company to work for, I was employed by them in the early sixties and stayed with them in various capacities for the best part of 40 years.

Mr Brown senior was a true gent with a kind heart and looked after his employees well, I remember when in the sixties if you worked overtime after your normal days work they provided a small meal FOC.

Mr Graham I did not know, he had passed away several years earlier, but if his son Roger is anything to go by then he must have been a great chap.

David Brown and Roger Graham the respective son's of the founders worked tirelessly to improve products and product ranges, it was they who put Graham and Brown on the map by nearly bankrupting themselves by introducing Blown Vinyl wallcoverings to the UK and then on to become one of the Worlds finest Wallpaper manufacturers.

The 3rd generation of their respective families are now in place and I believe, as firmly committed as their forefathers
were in consolidating Graham and Brown's position at the top of the tree.

Good luck to this still family owned company and all the best for the next sixty odd years.

alf-abett wrote:
Excellent Company to work for, I was employed by them in the early sixties and stayed with them in various capacities for the best part of 40 years. Mr Brown senior was a true gent with a kind heart and looked after his employees well, I remember when in the sixties if you worked overtime after your normal days work they provided a small meal FOC. Mr Graham I did not know, he had passed away several years earlier, but if his son Roger is anything to go by then he must have been a great chap. David Brown and Roger Graham the respective son's of the founders worked tirelessly to improve products and product ranges, it was they who put Graham and Brown on the map by nearly bankrupting themselves by introducing Blown Vinyl wallcoverings to the UK and then on to become one of the Worlds finest Wallpaper manufacturers. The 3rd generation of their respective families are now in place and I believe, as firmly committed as their forefathers were in consolidating Graham and Brown's position at the top of the tree. Good luck to this still family owned company and all the best for the next sixty odd years.

By you Are a right crawler arnt you
I worked for them in the mid 90s I hated it they thought more about profits than the workers.
But each to his own , if you like being a creep.

2 for 5p wrote:

alf-abett wrote:
Excellent Company to work for, I was employed by them in the early sixties and stayed with them in various capacities for the best part of 40 years. Mr Brown senior was a true gent with a kind heart and looked after his employees well, I remember when in the sixties if you worked overtime after your normal days work they provided a small meal FOC. Mr Graham I did not know, he had passed away several years earlier, but if his son Roger is anything to go by then he must have been a great chap. David Brown and Roger Graham the respective son's of the founders worked tirelessly to improve products and product ranges, it was they who put Graham and Brown on the map by nearly bankrupting themselves by introducing Blown Vinyl wallcoverings to the UK and then on to become one of the Worlds finest Wallpaper manufacturers. The 3rd generation of their respective families are now in place and I believe, as firmly committed as their forefathers were in consolidating Graham and Brown's position at the top of the tree. Good luck to this still family owned company and all the best for the next sixty odd years.

By you Are a right crawler arnt you
I worked for them in the mid 90s I hated it they thought more about profits than the workers.
But each to his own , if you like being a creep.

I came across one or two like yourself with a real bad attitudes, but there again you and your likes are in all walks of life, with bitter and twisted thinking and mentalities of six year old's. Bet you got sacked!! I would think by your post you are possibly a waster who believes in everything being given to you, am I right.
Silly question? I would not expect you to reply in the affirmative.

i work there now and they treat you like you treat them if you work hard you are rewarded and yes there are D**ckhheads that woprk here and i would sack a good few if i had my way

I never got sacked , l jacked of my own accord,
I had a injury on there premises they wouldnt keep the job open while I recovered. So poke it was my reply to them.
Alf a bet and TN toast you continue to DoB your caps and see what pay rise they give this year.
profit before staff.

the writing was on the wall........

makaveli96 wrote:
the writing was on the wall........

Its just papering over the cracks

This is to be expected for british manufacturing. Mr Brown needs to realise like mr dyson did that there are people in cambodia who will do the same job for 50 pence a day. How can he compete? the answer is he can't and the sooner he realises this he will either a) move to some third world country where a rich household shares a pair of shoes or b) go into administration like the rest of the industry in Blackburn. It was only last week the workers of foxconn in china were rioytng for better conditions as are the miners in south africa. Foxconn was the same company where, six months ago, 200 workers went on the roof and said they would commit sucide unless they got a pay rise. I think they now earn £5 a day..
How can any company compete with that? The anwser is to increase import duty so it costs them the same to get it here. We are one of the biggest consumer markets in the world yet we undercut ourselves in order to get cheap goods, we'd sooner be out of work so we can get an iphone for 30 quid a month.

RUinsane wrote:
This is to be expected for british manufacturing. Mr Brown needs to realise like mr dyson did that there are people in cambodia who will do the same job for 50 pence a day. How can he compete? the answer is he can't and the sooner he realises this he will either a) move to some third world country where a rich household shares a pair of shoes or b) go into administration like the rest of the industry in Blackburn. It was only last week the workers of foxconn in china were rioytng for better conditions as are the miners in south africa. Foxconn was the same company where, six months ago, 200 workers went on the roof and said they would commit sucide unless they got a pay rise. I think they now earn £5 a day..
How can any company compete with that? The anwser is to increase import duty so it costs them the same to get it here. We are one of the biggest consumer markets in the world yet we undercut ourselves in order to get cheap goods, we'd sooner be out of work so we can get an iphone for 30 quid a month.

Of course that should have said RIOTING, I've got them friday fudgey fingers :0).

2 for 5p wrote:
I never got sacked , l jacked of my own accord,
I had a injury on there premises they wouldnt keep the job open while I recovered. So poke it was my reply to them.
Alf a bet and TN toast you continue to DoB your caps and see what pay rise they give this year.
profit before staff.

me quite a nice one thanks pay rise that is

tntoast wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:
I never got sacked , l jacked of my own accord,
I had a injury on there premises they wouldnt keep the job open while I recovered. So poke it was my reply to them.
Alf a bet and TN toast you continue to DoB your caps and see what pay rise they give this year.
profit before staff.

me quite a nice one thanks pay rise that is

Not now the profits are down you won't be. :-)

If you want my advice, I would say go on strike, oh no sorry I forgot you don't have a union there do you. :-)

2 for 5p wrote:

tntoast wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:
I never got sacked , l jacked of my own accord,
I had a injury on there premises they wouldnt keep the job open while I recovered. So poke it was my reply to them.
Alf a bet and TN toast you continue to DoB your caps and see what pay rise they give this year.
profit before staff.

me quite a nice one thanks pay rise that is

Not now the profits are down you won't be. :-)

If you want my advice, I would say go on strike, oh no sorry I forgot you don't have a union there do you. :-)

pardon me did i not say "i got as pay rise" or was the injury to your head and you didnt understand me

RUinsane wrote:
This is to be expected for british manufacturing. Mr Brown needs to realise like mr dyson did that there are people in cambodia who will do the same job for 50 pence a day. How can he compete? the answer is he can't and the sooner he realises this he will either a) move to some third world country where a rich household shares a pair of shoes or b) go into administration like the rest of the industry in Blackburn. It was only last week the workers of foxconn in china were rioytng for better conditions as are the miners in south africa. Foxconn was the same company where, six months ago, 200 workers went on the roof and said they would commit sucide unless they got a pay rise. I think they now earn £5 a day..
How can any company compete with that? The anwser is to increase import duty so it costs them the same to get it here. We are one of the biggest consumer markets in the world yet we undercut ourselves in order to get cheap goods, we'd sooner be out of work so we can get an iphone for 30 quid a month.

You do post some sensible posts... sometimes.

happycyclist wrote:

RUinsane wrote:
This is to be expected for british manufacturing. Mr Brown needs to realise like mr dyson did that there are people in cambodia who will do the same job for 50 pence a day. How can he compete? the answer is he can't and the sooner he realises this he will either a) move to some third world country where a rich household shares a pair of shoes or b) go into administration like the rest of the industry in Blackburn. It was only last week the workers of foxconn in china were rioytng for better conditions as are the miners in south africa. Foxconn was the same company where, six months ago, 200 workers went on the roof and said they would commit sucide unless they got a pay rise. I think they now earn £5 a day..
How can any company compete with that? The anwser is to increase import duty so it costs them the same to get it here. We are one of the biggest consumer markets in the world yet we undercut ourselves in order to get cheap goods, we'd sooner be out of work so we can get an iphone for 30 quid a month.

You do post some sensible posts... sometimes.

Sometimes some things need to be said with a straight face.
I actually feel really sorry for the unemployed being costantly bombarded by morons calling them all scoungers. Unless someone has stashed 5 million well paid jobs in a drawer somewhere whats the pont of trying to blame someone who has no option. Turning into a nazi state and some people don't realise how easily they are being spoon fed propoganda, they actually believe they made a conscious decision. Me?, you can't make up something you don't posess, your own mind. :0)

tntoast wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:

tntoast wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:
I never got sacked , l jacked of my own accord,
I had a injury on there premises they wouldnt keep the job open while I recovered. So poke it was my reply to them.
Alf a bet and TN toast you continue to DoB your caps and see what pay rise they give this year.
profit before staff.

me quite a nice one thanks pay rise that is

Not now the profits are down you won't be. :-)

If you want my advice, I would say go on strike, oh no sorry I forgot you don't have a union there do you. :-)

pardon me did i not say "i got as pay rise" or was the injury to your head and you didnt understand me

Yes this year maybe, but pay rises can be reversed.
Now next year that will be intresting to see. :-)

happycyclist wrote:

RUinsane wrote:
This is to be expected for british manufacturing. Mr Brown needs to realise like mr dyson did that there are people in cambodia who will do the same job for 50 pence a day. How can he compete? the answer is he can't and the sooner he realises this he will either a) move to some third world country where a rich household shares a pair of shoes or b) go into administration like the rest of the industry in Blackburn. It was only last week the workers of foxconn in china were rioytng for better conditions as are the miners in south africa. Foxconn was the same company where, six months ago, 200 workers went on the roof and said they would commit sucide unless they got a pay rise. I think they now earn £5 a day..
How can any company compete with that? The anwser is to increase import duty so it costs them the same to get it here. We are one of the biggest consumer markets in the world yet we undercut ourselves in order to get cheap goods, we'd sooner be out of work so we can get an iphone for 30 quid a month.

You do post some sensible posts... sometimes.

Seconded.
The masses of this country are buying us into poverty.

.....profits taken a pasting !!

Good for G&B. Top quality wallpaper with good design is probably not nearly as vulnerable to cut-price competition from countries with low labour costs as a lot of other products. Wallpaper is never going to be mass market product like consumer electronics and cars etc.
There should be a decent future in exports provided G&B can keep a good quality and design advantage. The growth of their export business in the last three years proves the point.

Why are so many people so negative and pessimistic?

I think if you read the above properly you will see that the profit loss refers to 2011 and that trading has recovered in the current financial year - sorry to disappoint any bitter and twisteds who think that a company not holding their job for them whilst off sick constitutes a jacking rather than a sacking

Hardcastle wrote:
Good for G&B. Top quality wallpaper with good design is probably not nearly as vulnerable to cut-price competition from countries with low labour costs as a lot of other products. Wallpaper is never going to be mass market product like consumer electronics and cars etc.
There should be a decent future in exports provided G&B can keep a good quality and design advantage. The growth of their export business in the last three years proves the point.

Why are so many people so negative and pessimistic?

Tell all that guff to the employees of Crown wallcoverings, last time I looked it was a row of houses and another 800 people out of work.. Graham and Brown encountered an upturn in profits when crown went pop as they swallowed up the excess market share. Graham and brown concentrated on luxury blown vinyl.
About 11 years ago Emerson and Renwick, the machine manufacturers that make the blown vinyl machines. Delivered 5 shiney new integrated lines that went from raw product to going out the door in one continuous process, they delivered these lines to Russia. Now bearing in mind they've now had 11 years to perfect the process and they don't have the same environmental issues to address and the workforce are paid in peanuts.
Which company do you think will still be around in another 20 years?
Also around 12 years ago the chinese were also investigating wallpaper and mass production. They have no environmental regulations and pay their workers in rice.
Same question, in 20 years who do you think will still be around?
So you are saying quality will save them. Did it save TVR Crown ICI Philips. You are deluded. People are just bothered about price. If its cheap, great stuff, if its good quality and cheap, its a bonus. Take alcohol as a rough guide, you can get 3 litres of white lightning for £5, why do you think they sell so much of it. If it tasted like moet chandon it would be considered a bonus. As the guy above stated you are all buying yourself into poverty.
The reason I got out of the wallpaper industry is I saw what makaveli and I wrote.
The writing was on the wall and we were just papering over the cracks,
. The consumer has driven the prices down so far manufacturers can't produce it any more so it all gets done at these third world super factories with the trained monkeys.
Or to put it more bluntly for you to see. The wallpaper industry has shrunk to next to nothing in the last fifty years, so yeah specialist papers like flock block print and lincrusta may survive, but they will be like cottage industries. If you want to reverse this trend all imports should have massive duties imposed on them, then it would be cheaper to buy our own produce and there would be jobs in abundance. Until then, enjoy your Iphone.

I see the whingers and whiners are out in force. Don't you know how boring you are.

That's a good post ruinsain.
I also think it will go down the tubes in a few years.
People and businesses rant on about buying British yet these firms will buy a lot of its raw produce and outsorce work abroad.
Its simply a case of profit before people and that is across the board.

I would advise anyone working there to start practicing signing there name
Because they will be doing that quite regularly, well once a fortnight. :-)

. . " start practicing signing there name " . . . or maybe your spelling. You are probably not working there now cos you never listened when you were at school . . . 2 out of 5 . Could do better !!

lostforwords wrote:
I see the whingers and whiners are out in force. Don't you know how boring you are.

Oh the irony, a guy with no opinion on the article and nothing to say calls someone boring :0). Must have a Galaxy s2 instead of an s3

I live in USA. Some of these comments go for what is happening here. 40 years ago, almost everything we bought was made in USA. Today it seems that very little is made here. Mostly made in China. Our balance of trade is skyrocketing in the negative. Millions of our manufacturing jobs, like yours, have gone to the Far East, never to return.
The big stores are making a killing. Buying cheap and selling high. Most customers just look at the price tag. Cannot be good for all our countries futures. I have some Graham and Brown paper on my walls.

Oh, and my Dad worked at Cunliffe and Ward on Gate Street before the war.
I think they were part of Crown Wallpapers eventually.

Are you lot for real? Smiley icons and crap jokes because you percieve from this incorrect headline that a 66 yr old company that is one of the largest employers in Blackburn may be hitting on hard times, is that how you get your kicks? Sooo sorry to disappoint but we are made from sterner stuff than that- sure its been tough, you lot have no idea, but tenacity, teamwork and hard bloody work has seen us through like it has for the last 66 years and now, as it clearly states in the above article we are seeing growth - you lot should be ashamed - go and worry about your own jobs instead of making your snide comments scaremongering the bloody fantastic people who are part of the Graham & Brown family - take your negativity elsewhere we will continue to do just fine thanks - btw alf-abett I agree with every word you said -obviously a true gent who truly understands how people with a real work ethic operate - unfortunately these days it seems like we are in the minority

Dozza17 wrote:
Are you lot for real? Smiley icons and crap jokes because you percieve from this incorrect headline that a 66 yr old company that is one of the largest employers in Blackburn may be hitting on hard times, is that how you get your kicks? Sooo sorry to disappoint but we are made from sterner stuff than that- sure its been tough, you lot have no idea, but tenacity, teamwork and hard bloody work has seen us through like it has for the last 66 years and now, as it clearly states in the above article we are seeing growth - you lot should be ashamed - go and worry about your own jobs instead of making your snide comments scaremongering the bloody fantastic people who are part of the Graham & Brown family - take your negativity elsewhere we will continue to do just fine thanks - btw alf-abett I agree with every word you said -obviously a true gent who truly understands how people with a real work ethic operate - unfortunately these days it seems like we are in the minority

I admire your spirit, you are coming out with the same drive ambition. determination and courage as would be expected of a honest hard working employee. This is exactly the same as the 800 from crown wallcoverings, the 300 from colouroll willmans vymura etc etc etc.What makes you think you are any different from them?? Delusional
What you fail to recognise is that manufacturing is moving out of this country.
The only manufacturing jobs left behind will be in perishable goods like food. Pizzas pies etc etc, any process where the item has shelf life will be made abroad. If you can't see this happening then I feel sorry for you.
Crown wallcoverings was a 150 year old company. Whats how old got to do with anything?
Import duties need to be raised, we and the rest of the free world are under attack from emerging economies. The only sad thing is it is our governments who are encouraging it so the money men can make more of it and you can enjoy your iphone for 30 quid a month.
If that fails to sink in, stick to pasting paper.

kenbro wrote:
Oh, and my Dad worked at Cunliffe and Ward on Gate Street before the war.
I think they were part of Crown Wallpapers eventually.

I always try to buy british or usa where I can. Its getting more difficult as time goes on. People need to realise that what is left behind is for their children. We are currently running at 21.4% youth unemployment with a further 30% being inactive or not included. In America you are running at 24% youth unemployment. this can't continue so that people can enjoy cheaper imported goods. It just makes no sense.

A lot of British workers deserve to be stewed in there own p#ss
Because they take everything that is thrown at them, they have got no fight left in them. Three always frightened of going on strike.
And now the controlling classes have got the whip hand over us. That is partly due to ar#eholes like tntoast and alfabet with there boss praising attitudes , thanks guys for selling us all down the river.

2 for 5p wrote:
A lot of British workers deserve to be stewed in there own p#ss
Because they take everything that is thrown at them, they have got no fight left in them. Three always frightened of going on strike.
And now the controlling classes have got the whip hand over us. That is partly due to ar#eholes like tntoast and alfabet with there boss praising attitudes , thanks guys for selling us all down the river.

My opinion of you has just been confirmed by this latest unwarranted outburst from yourself, you have just shown the readers of these posts what a sad person you are with a real vitriolic attitude, is it any wonder that G&B declined in keeping your position open for you, in effect you were sacked!!.

I suggest that you go lie down now and I guarantee that when you awake, life will still be as is and you will still be a waster with no future and living off the dole,

alf-abett wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:
A lot of British workers deserve to be stewed in there own p#ss
Because they take everything that is thrown at them, they have got no fight left in them. Three always frightened of going on strike.
And now the controlling classes have got the whip hand over us. That is partly due to ar#eholes like tntoast and alfabet with there boss praising attitudes , thanks guys for selling us all down the river.

My opinion of you has just been confirmed by this latest unwarranted outburst from yourself, you have just shown the readers of these posts what a sad person you are with a real vitriolic attitude, is it any wonder that G&B declined in keeping your position open for you, in effect you were sacked!!.

I suggest that you go lie down now and I guarantee that when you awake, life will still be as is and you will still be a waster with no future and living off the dole,

How dare you look down your scab noise at me , there's nothing wrong with being on the dole .
However I am far from being on the dole I am very successful person working as a civil servant.
The problems with this country start and end with the likes of you not me .

2 for 5p wrote:

alf-abett wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:
A lot of British workers deserve to be stewed in there own p#ss
Because they take everything that is thrown at them, they have got no fight left in them. Three always frightened of going on strike.
And now the controlling classes have got the whip hand over us. That is partly due to ar#eholes like tntoast and alfabet with there boss praising attitudes , thanks guys for selling us all down the river.

My opinion of you has just been confirmed by this latest unwarranted outburst from yourself, you have just shown the readers of these posts what a sad person you are with a real vitriolic attitude, is it any wonder that G&B declined in keeping your position open for you, in effect you were sacked!!.

I suggest that you go lie down now and I guarantee that when you awake, life will still be as is and you will still be a waster with no future and living off the dole,

How dare you look down your scab noise at me , there's nothing wrong with being on the dole .
However I am far from being on the dole I am very successful person working as a civil servant.
The problems with this country start and end with the likes of you not me .

Night night, hope the bed bugs don't bite.

Good night SCAB.

2 for 5p wrote:

alf-abett wrote:

2 for 5p wrote:
A lot of British workers deserve to be stewed in there own p#ss
Because they take everything that is thrown at them, they have got no fight left in them. Three always frightened of going on strike.
And now the controlling classes have got the whip hand over us. That is partly due to ar#eholes like tntoast and alfabet with there boss praising attitudes , thanks guys for selling us all down the river.

My opinion of you has just been confirmed by this latest unwarranted outburst from yourself, you have just shown the readers of these posts what a sad person you are with a real vitriolic attitude, is it any wonder that G&B declined in keeping your position open for you, in effect you were sacked!!.

I suggest that you go lie down now and I guarantee that when you awake, life will still be as is and you will still be a waster with no future and living off the dole,

How dare you look down your scab noise at me , there's nothing wrong with being on the dole .
However I am far from being on the dole I am very successful person working as a civil servant.
The problems with this country start and end with the likes of you not me .

'very successful person working as a civil servant'. An oxymoron if ever there was one!