“Healthy” is subjective as well, it would probably be good to see what the new batches of whistles are like before celebrating too much. JC Walsh seems to be a company focused on the sorts of “Irish gifts” you find in Carroll’s and other gift shops, rather than a musical instrument manufacturer. Doesn’t mean they won’t do a good job making whistles, but they don’t have a track record in any which way, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Interesting but I agree with the wait and see approach. I would assume they obtained the molds and die machines and all, but will they know if something is off without the instrument manufacturing background?
Eric
I just visited the JC Walsh and Sons website and yes, they seem to be a gift shop supplier, a wholesaler type of operation. “Irish” matches up with “Novelty” and there are currently no musical anythings for sale. I’d therefore expect ZERO design or quality control and some kind of minimalist Feadog production. I imagine the Walsh team is imagining tin whistles in gift shops at tourist trap locations. Definitely a wait and see situation.
Which ofcourse is already a considerable part of the market every tourist shop has its corner with the Guinness whistles, the Feadóg green whistle and whistle plus pub song packages (see the best seller section on the Feadóg site).
I’d hope that they’ve kept the workforce as well, and that their jobs are secure.
Not exactly the fault of Feadog upon which retail shelves they land. As you say, it’s a considerable part of their market as well.
I wouldn’t presume anything. The directors of JC Walsh decided to buy Feadog, it’s not their personal experience in producing musical instruments that’s in question, but whether they can sustain the company … and its workers who do the actual work.
I didn’t try to apportion blame or find fault but was merely describing a long standing situation. Ofcourse there’s packaging, design and content that is explicitly tailored to that segment of the market but that is part of making the company viable. And that is fine, even if some of it can come across as a bit tacky. It would be a shame though if that market segment were to become the centre of their focus.
Problems with communication in forums. It’s OK, I didn’t think you were apportioning blame, just making an observation.