During more economic times the sales in pre owned porcelain commanded reasonable profits. Buying in tea sets for £10 and selling them for £30 worked. Within the antique trade, china is no longer selling in the same volumes in previous years. Buyers want to pay £10 for a tea set, sellers will find it difficult to source stock for less than £5. This will make it more difficult for dealers to be economically viable.

The supermarkets continue to offer foreign heavy earthen ware tableware sets from as little as 65p per piece. Agreed, the quality is not always there but for casual daily use they are ideal. Breakages and chips are discarded and replaced with another set. It makes throw away paper cups and plates expensive.

UK China Direct no longer offers to buy in pre owned Aynsley porcelain. We are moving away from stocking new and pre owned products but accepting made to order from Aynsley. We will stock a small selection of the popular lines, but economics are now increasing our storage costs.

Delivery charges increases from 25% to an expected 30% in the next 12 months. To absorb these costs we are accepting less profit to work with. High street China retailers will continue to close in larger numbers. As online retailers will see a steady growth. UK China Direct will continue to discount Aynsley products in the tableware where quantity's means we can offer loss leaders. We would prefer to break even on half of a tableware setting than loose a sale. Our lowest price promise is going to be an important promotion in the future. We will try and subsidise delivery charges and in some product quantity's.