Diana's estate eyes home products line
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 14, 2002
NEW YORK — Althorp, the 500-year-old British estate that was the childhood home of the late Lady Diana Spencer, has retained licensing specialist Concept Marketing Group to develop a line of home products, including furniture.
"We are honored to be selected for this assignment," said Kerry Glasser, president of Concept Marketing. "We believe that Althorp, which is deep-rooted in quality traditional British styling and the Spencer family residence since 1586, has the historical credibility necessary for success in the home products marketplace."
The soonest any furniture would appear under the Althorp license would be the spring of 2003, Glasser said.
Althorp has benefited from distinguished designers in several historical periods and is not tied to any one era, which Glasser said will offer a diversity of inspiration for furniture products.
"Because of this diversity, we are confident the concept of well-designed quality products carrying the Althorp imprimatur will appeal to a broad spectrum of consumers," he said.
Charles, the Earl of Spencer, brother of Lady Diana and owner of Althorp, said the time was right to share the estate's rich British heritage with the rest of the world.
"There are many who may never have the opportunity to visit my ancestral home," Spencer said. "But the history and style that Althorp represents is within everyone's grasp, through the high-quality items that we are designing for use throughout the home."
