“Iconic china and ceramics firm Waterford Wedgwood has gone into administration after the economic slowdown hit the debt-laden firm. Deloitte has been appointed as administrator to seek buyers for different parts of the company. It said failed buyout talks and poor trading meant restructuring could not happen ‘in an acceptable timescale.’ Wedgwood has also requested that its shares be suspended from trading on the Irish Stock Exchange. … Wedgwood has been known as an iconic name in British pottery firm for 250 years, with many households in the UK owning one or more of their pieces. In 1987 it merged with the similarly well-known Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an Irish-based luxury brands group ” [editor’s note: Woolie’s, now Wedgewood … both ends of the spectrum - MLS] (01/05/09)