Essex International is a well known name in the Thai jewellery industry.
     In the mid 90’s Essex International opened a second factory in San Kampeng, Chiang Mai. This factory was required to add resource to the business to cope with the increasing demand from the US parent company (Town & Country). As a result the business started to manufacture from two factories, having maintained its Bangkok factory on Surawong road. About the same time, the sales, product development and accounting function were moved out of the factory into offices in the Bangkok Gem and Jewelry Tower.
     Towards the end of the ‘90’s, Town and Country were in receivership and sold Essex International to Abbeycrest (from the UK). Last year the business relocated its San Kampeng factory to Lamphun, where a purpose built jewellery factory had been built by Abbeycrest.
     Essex International has faced two challenges over the last fewyears:
1. How to return to the US market after the collapse of Town and Country
2. How to stay competitive under the pressures of globalisation
     The return to the US market was addressed last year with the set up of Abbeycrest North America, based in New York. The sales team is headed by Charlie Gilman and in addition Essex International has employed a US based merchandiser, Susan Fajer–Albright, to drive the US product development.

    The competitive international environment is here to stay. Business will only become more competitive as globalisation increases. To be competitive in the current and future markets we have to continually review the way we operate.
    As a result of this review it is with great regret that I have to announce that production from the Bangkok factory will be stopped and all manufacturing moved to the Lamphun factory. Only by centralizing production in one site will we be able to increase our operational effectiveness.
     Although sad for those employed in the Bangkok factory, the move will bring many benefits to the manufacturing, especially in terms of efficiencies and planning. As we start to rebuild our contacts in the US, the move to establish a single effective manufacturing unit is seen a building block for the future of the company.
     Essex International will maintain its presence in Bangkok through its offices in the Bangkok Gem and Jewelry Tower on Surawong Road. The offices house the sales department, product development and accounting functions. Liaison with the Lamphun factory and the stone buying operation will be retained in the Bangkok factory also on Surawong Road.

James Crossley-Smith
17th March 2004