After covering the rest of the country the snow finally hit Pembrokeshire. It’s always milder here and we’re always the last to get any snowfall but we did manage some over New Year’s Day. It’s still very cold and we haven’t completely thawed yet so we may find it difficult to get deliveries out next week.

Mandy and the dogs enjoying a very wintry Abermawr beach.

You are invited to the Royal Arcade Late Night Christmas Shopping evening on Thursday 3rd December, 5pm - 8pm. Pop in to Melin Tregwynt for a mulled wine and mince pie and take a look at our unique and inspiring Welsh gift ideas.  We’re at no. 26 Royal Arcade just opposite the newly opened St.David’s Centre.

10% off any purchase over £50 on the evening 

If you can’t make it to the store on Thursday 3^rd you can still use the same discount offer in the run up to Christmas.  Our Cardiff shop will be opening until 8pm every Thursday night and also on Sundays from 11am – 4pm during December.

We’re always looking for new ways to use our fabrics, so this year we’ve introduced a collection of upholstery fabrics and a range of lampshades. New products for this winter also include new bags, clothing for men and women, shoes and baby clothes.

Here at Melin Tregwynt we try to make things that are useful, beautiful and that will make the perfect gift. If you are buying a present for someone we are happy to gift-wrap and put in a personalized card.

Earlier this year First Minister Rhodri Morgan visited Melin Tregwynt which flew the flag for Wales at a major international cultural event in the United States in June.

The First Minister said: “Melin Tregwynt’s products have gained a worldwide reputation for its stylish and eye-catching designs as modern as they come, but linking strongly to the craft and cultural heritage of Wales. This is one of the reasons why the company has an important part to play at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where the best of Wales’ culture and traditions will be showcased Wales to more than one million visitors from across the USA and further afield. If what I have seen here at Melin Tregwynt is anything to go by, those visiting the festival will have a wonderful experience and will be flocking to buy some of Melin Tregwynt’s elegant and striking products to enhance their own homes with something Welsh and something special.”

Wales needs to maximise its cultural icons, a review of the nation’s heritage tourism, for the Welsh Assembly, recommends. The 165 page report says that because Wales has relatively few cultural icons it’s important to maximise the impact of those that do exist. 

Those listed include castles, the Wales Millennium Centre and Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the national parks and famous welshmen from Dylan Thomas to Tom Jones. The review praises innovative tourism examples in Wales: especially the traditional cottage holiday company Under the Thatch, the Faenol Festival in North Wales, the marketing of the Wye and Dyfi valleys and Melin Tregwynt.

So now we’re a cultural icon. What next I wonder? 

Whilst we don’t have a group photograph of all of you, we’re very grateful for your continued support of all of us here at Melin Tregwynt (see picture below).

I’m pleased to say that despite all the economic gloom, around at the moment, our retail sales were up 25% over the last year, thanks to you and all our other customers.  

Just a quick update on the year so far. Our blankets and throws are now being sold in John Lewis and are doing extremely well. We’ve produced a new range of traditional doublecloth bedspreads, designed by Donna Wilson, which is being launched at Milan furniture fair and then sold exclusively through SCP in London. Despite the recession we’re selling well in Germany and Japan and have a number of large hotel projects to complete. Later this year we’re doing more joint projects with other manufacturers like Healthy Back Bags, Innermost, Birkenstock, Tolbiac and others.

Let us know what you think about these new products when they arrive; and what else you’d like to see us selling. We couldn’t do it without you.