Member Info for AJ16

Mulder, luckily I don't have that many, I think my top SP was around a dizzy 30p when I dipped in many years ago, I lived in hope that it would be a great British company again, however I gave up on that ages ago, my holding value is so small now that I'm not bothered by any drops, however I sincerely hope that someone will take this away from the present owners and make it British again but sadly I think it's way too late.

how many are you holding then?

http://www.hl.co.uk/news/2018/2/15/laura-ashley-profits-fall-as-furniture-sales-slump-hits-home

nothing to get excited about, a far eastern corporate accountant. This company needs British leadership.

Well you can sit on your hands and do nothing and just hope that things will get better, or you can try and do something. This company shows no signs that they have a plan that will turn things around, I've been watching them for many years. I would dearly like it to turn around and be a great British company again selling British designed and made goods as the market is there, but with the current board it's unlikely to happen. I have actively written to them to query things but it needs more of you to do the same and also turn up at the AGM. In my view it will take someone with some real vision and business drive to sort this one out. It's not decamping, it's trying to stir some action up for the greater good. If you look on the Companies House website you will see all the directors there together with the LA address, so I would suggest sending a letter to one or all of them to ask what their plans are.

It's called whistling in the dark. The downward slide accelerated when Khoo Kay Peng's wife was awarded a �64million divorce settlement. The shops are dull with no imaginative display and a confusing range of goods with no USP. I've watched these slide steadily downwards from July 2014 when they were 34p, I've given up caring now and moved on to other retailers who have moved with the times. Good luck but I would cut your losses while you can as unless a miracle happens LA is surely doomed.

Please do not post any more crapola here you must be the biggest ramper around, perhaps an insider? Face it man the company has had it period......

Are you a Supertramp fan? The SP has dropped in inverse relation to you trying to big it up over the last year.

A nervous time for you if you have that many. The current instability is puzzling, some say it is short selling but with all those single digit and low double digit movements who knows?

Well this could be good news as she has a fashion background, not a youngster mind you. On the down side we yet another Malaysian, nice enough people but their fellow Malaysians have nothing nothing for the company. The third appointment is the finance director who has been there years. These shares are going nowhere until the shareholders rebel at the next AGM.

Yes it is tough one to call isn't it. I have to admit to buying another 25 yesterday when it dropped to 36.24, I was attracted by the new Vienna base news. Today one would have expected an upswing but it's still a rocky ridet, I now expect to see it drop further today but who knows!

Has anyone got any insights into what is going on with SP at at moment? Just wondering if it's wise to buy at the moment or sit on hands..

Far from it my friend, I really want to see this company great again and not just for financial reasons as my holding is derisory, my concern is that this will never happen under the present autocrat or foreign owners.

Yes they closed a really nice shop in a good area of Bristol some years ago and went into a dull mall in the centre, that wasn't a success so they closed it and transferred to a 'shed' on a retail park now but it's nothing special I'm afraid. There is one in Bath but last Christmas it looked very disorganised and without any real appeal.

You are brave, I hope your purchases work out but I see far better ways to invest in AIM companies that have real potential for quick growth for similar pennies rather than blind faith in the hope that a failing company will miraculously turnaround under the current ownership, even if it were taken over the nature of the muddled merchandise will mean that the share price will never achieve much. As I said before this needs to be a British company focussing on at least a 70% line up of well designed and manufactured British goods. It needs someone with the vision of the founder or Emma Bridgewater to make a bid to rescue it.

I think that a Chinese or Indian takeover would be the kiss of death and take it right away from Europe.

Why would the Chinese want it? It's a lame duck I'm afraid with no leadership or meaningful business plan to make it any different.

This company seems clueless or not bothered about what to do to end the slow slide into oblivion. There are only 4 directors left now after the termination of Ms Kwa Kim Li on 6 September (see Companies Houses website) Khoo Kay Peng seems to be the problem, goodness knows how much he is sucking out of the company, if you go by press reports attributed to his ex wife he is seriously rich and earns millions a year. He's undoubtedly the main holder of the 727.76 million shares so presumably calls all the shots. He's coming up to 80 so may be content to sit back for the rest of his time. Kwan Cheon NG is a director of several other companies so probably not too bothered. David Masters is a director in an equine company, that leaves Nyen Faat WONG who is a director of a hotel company. I don't see any hope there to save this British company with this bunch I'm afraid. We could lobby the board but it's unlikely to even be noticed. The only hope would be a buy out by someone who understands British design, just imagine if Emma Bridgewater was in control. As for us I think we can only vote with our feet and simply sell up and put pressure on them.

nearing the all time low again, stick or twist....

an eternal optimist, I hope you are right but wishful thinking doesn't cut anything in business unfortunately. In fact the figures for the trades placed today don't agree with you, there was more sold than bought including a £51K sell off at 14.31 the COB was + 0.13p!