One of the advantages of choosing a manufacturer who is only half an hour's drive from David is the great opportunity it gives David to be fully involved with all aspects of production.

David is now taking this a logical step forward and is assuming direct responsibility for overseeing all manufacturing as well as coordinating all the UK distribution through his company, David Winter Cottages. Taking back full responsibility for production, after 25 years of his company being run by others, as you can imagine has him very excited.

We believe that not only will this lead to a great product for everyone but it will allow David to further shape and develop new cottages according to his vision of limited output through a dedicated and highly talented production team.

USA/Canadian Collectors will not be affected by these changes directly, but the overall result of David's new hands-on approach should benefit everyone.

David will be shipping all USA cottages directly to Kevin Francis and British Collectibles will carry on distributing in the USA.

Ann Causten will handle distribution in the UK on behalf of David, the same as she did for us so that distribution will also be unchanged.

Thank goodness David is so close and is willing to do this. Kevin wishes to have more time for his other interests and I have my hands full with the USA market.

I will continue to be the USA and Canadian Guild Coordinator and Ann Hamlet will continue to be the UK and Australian coordinator. We will both have identical information from David at the same time and I will continue to produce Cottage Tidings, but Ann will also produce a magazine for her members. Wherever your membership is, the only difference will be in the layout and printing of the two publications as David has promised to ensure that both magazines will have identical information made available to them.

The Cottage Tidings will continue as a 32-page full colour glossy magazine. I am sorry Ann has not given me full details on her planned magazine but has said it will be an updated version of the magazine she already produces.

The Friends of David Winter Collectors Guild will be carrying on in the same way as before and the next issue of Cottage Tidings will be carrying full details of David's new Guild piece Priory Ruins as well as a sneak preview of the next year's Christmas piece. I am awaiting its arrival from the printer on Monday, December 5, 2005.

David's new level of involvement is also allowing him to take a much more proactive role in the marketing of his cottages.

This is particularly good news for the USA and we look forward to soon making a major announcement regarding a very special promotional start to the New Year's production.

Any Friends of David Winter members from the UK, Europe and Australia will of course continue receiving their issues of Cottage Tidings until their present membership expires. Anyone wishing to renew will need to contact me directly.

Sheila@britishcollectibles.com (please note, I always acknowledge emails so if you do not hear from me within 48 hours then your email has not reached me even if it has not bounced back to you.

Sheila C/O British Collectibles.com
917 Chicago Ave.
Evanston
IL 60202

Tel. 1 800 634 0431
Fax 1 847 570 4867

From overseas Fax or email is probably the easiest.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.