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Howard Waddell
Industry Professional
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 Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 10:21 am Post subject: Albion Goes to the Continent |
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There is something about February and Albion…
7 Years ago, in February 1999, we opened our web page for business for the very first time. Shortly after opening the site, we hired our very first employee, Jason Dingledine (now the head of our Blade shop and film recreations R&D)
5 years ago, in February 2001, we moved to our manufacturing facility in New Glarus, Wisconsin, and Mike Sigman joined us to take over Customer Service.
4 years ago, in February 2002, Eric McHugh joined us full time (now the head of R&D for historical recreations).
In the last five years…
Peter Johnsson has visited Albion 10 times since 2001, and as a result of his research and hard work, and the tireless work of the staff here, we have 5 Museum Line sword models, 40 Next Generation sword models, 4 Squire Line models and 2 Special Limited edition swords in production, with many, many more in research and development.
Jody Samson, (who moved his studio from Burbank, California to join us in chilly Wisconsin in 2001), has designed and produced hundreds of individual custom swords (making him one of the most prolific custom makers ever in the business), guided the groundbreaking Conan project into production (the first accurate and fully functional film sword recreations ever in production), and has 6 of his exclusively designed swords in production, with many more in development.
And now…
This February, Albion is proud to announce the creation of Albion Europe, a sister company based on the Continent that will handle all marketing, customer service and distribution of Albion products for our European customers. Albion Europe will host websites in several languages and represent Albion at many festivals and trade shows throughout Europe.
Albion Europe will be run by our long-time customer and friend, Søren Niedziella.
We are thrilled to have a collector and western martial arts enthusiast of Søren’s caliber representing us and sharing his knowledge with our customers and friends in Europe. Under Søren’s leadership, Albion Europe will bring the same standard of quality and service that our customers have come to expect from Albion.
Albion has become known for its European research and European design, and now through Albion Europe, we will add a European presence, European representation and European distribution.
As Søren heads back to Denmark and begins implementation over the next few months, we will give updates on the services Albion Europe can offer.
Please join us in welcoming Søren to the Albion team.
Best,
Howy
Albion Swords Ltd
http://albion-swords.com
http://filmswords.com
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Lloyd Clark
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Congrats, Howy.
Good things happen for good people.
Cheers,
Lloyd Clark
2000 World Jousting Champion
2004 World Jousting Bronze Medalist
Swordmaster
Super Proud Husband and Father!
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Greyson Brown
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: |
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That's some really great news, of course it would happen right about the time I'm getting ready to leave the European continent, but hey, it's still good news. Congrats Howie  I still think you need to clone a "Euro-Mike," though. If nothing else, it would add a bullet to your list of Febuary firsts.
-Grey
"So long as I can keep the path of honor I am well content."
-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The White Company
Last edited by Greyson Brown on Thu 02 Feb, 2006 10:49 am; edited 1 time in total
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Martin Wallgren
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 10:48 am Post subject: |
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Hurra!
Välkomna!
Fantastic news! So we are going to not have to pay the 25% private import fee?
Good grace, this is a late x-mas present.
Swordsman, Archer and Dad
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Joe Fults
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 11:03 am Post subject: |
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Cool addition to the business.
"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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Russ Ellis
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Wow that's very exciting. Soren is a heck of a guy (and one heck of a collector) and I suspect that he will do a good job with Albion Europe. Congratulations!
TRITONWORKS Custom Scabbards
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Thomas Hoogendam
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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Great news!!! Living in the Netherlands, the waiting time for a sword to be cleared by custums is terrible, not to mention the duties you have to pay.
This is very good news indeed!!
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Blaz Berlec
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, that's great news. So me owning an Albion's sword sometime in the undefined future suddenly doesn't sound so incredible. 
Seriously, I think that Europe is a large and perspective market. There are hundreds and hundreds of sword lovers, from collectors of display items to sword fighting practitioners, reenactors, ... And although there are lots of individuals and companies making swords here, most of them have very long waiting lists, very high prices or low-quality products.
Looking forward to it!
Extant 15th Century German Gothic Armour
Extant 15th century Milanese armour
Arming doublet of the 15th century
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Brian M
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! I think we need a sale to commemorate this event...
Brian M
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Mikko Kuusirati
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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I'm walking on sunshine, whooo-oooah
I'm walking on sunshine, whooo-oooah
I'm walking on sunshine, whooo-oooah
And don't it feel good!
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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Gary Grzybek
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats Howy!
It's good to see you guys breaking into the european market.
Gary Grzybek
ARMA Northern N.J.
www.armastudy.org
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Jonathon Janusz
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations, Soren! Now Peter won't feel a thousand miles away when he's working at home - he's got a buddy 
. . . besides, I figured by now Soren has to have a 5% or better interest in the company just in personal inventory 
Phenomenal news for all the enthusiasts on the other side of the pond. This, I hope, will also help research and development process all around - it is always handy to have a place to hang your hat wherever you do business.
. . . and Howy, if you're looking for a Customer Service Duke of Europe. . . I've already got the flannel shirt, and a Packers cap is pretty easy to come by here in cheesehead country - those are your Regent's ornaments, are they not? 
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Bob Burns
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| Posted: Thu 02 Feb, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations Howie, that is absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!!!! Awesome and within 8 years, absolutely incredible.
Proof positive that it pays to prioritize high quality to customers!
Bob
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David Etienne
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| Posted: Fri 03 Feb, 2006 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| Martin Wallgren wrote: |
Fantastic news! So we are going to not have to pay the 25% private import fee?
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I'm afraid we will still have to pay the VAT, unless the importer wants to pay it for us.
But all in all, like you said, it's a fantastic news and I'd like to congratulate both Howard and Søren for this excellent initiative !
Cheers,
David
P.S. to Thomas : I didn't know there were so much customs differences between the Netherlands and Belgium. I've already bought 3 swords from Albion and get them within 5 days. Moreover, I didn't have to pay the VAT and import fees for two of them (customs are a lottery, and I'm lucky :-)
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Sam Barris
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| Posted: Fri 03 Feb, 2006 12:41 am Post subject: |
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Are there any countries in the EU that may still resist these items being shipped into their country, in spite of Albion's new continental status?
Pax,
Sam Barris
"Any nation that draws too great a distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools." —Thucydides
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Folkert van Wijk
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| Posted: Fri 03 Feb, 2006 1:04 am Post subject: |
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This is realy great!!!
Congratulations Albion and Søren Niedziella!
Looking foreward to hear more about this...
Maybe in advance someone from Albion could tell what this all means for costumers from europe?
Is there indead a decline of delivery time?
And the duties?
Is there going to be a stock here in Europe?
Is there also going to be a workshop somewhere for services and such?
Maybe even for production???
Questions questions...
Anyhow it's good to have a company like yours in europe, to fill up the emty spaces between the "verry good hi quality, expencive and long waiting list" like stuf and the "verry cheap not so verry good quality" like stuf...
Again congrats!!!
I wich you quys Good Bussiness...!
Folkert
A good sword will only be sharp, in the hands of a wise man…
I am great fan of everything Celtic BC, including there weapons.
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Michal Plezia
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Fri 03 Feb, 2006 1:30 am Post subject: |
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Wonderfull!
Hmm Niedziella...does he have any polish ancestors?Niedziela (with one l ) is Sunday in polish
www.elchon.com
Polish Guild of Knifemakers
The sword is a weapon for killing, the art of the sword is the art of killing. No matter what fancy words you use or what titles you put to
it that is the only truth.
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Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom
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| Posted: Sat 04 Feb, 2006 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| Folkert van Wijk wrote: | This is realy great!!!
Congratulations Albion and Søren Niedziella!
Anyhow it's good to have a company like yours in europe, to fill up the emty spaces between the "verry good hi quality, expencive and long waiting list" like stuf and the "verry cheap not so verry good quality" like stuf...
Again congrats!!!
I wich you quys Good Bussiness...!
Folkert |
You really hit the nail on that one, Folkert!
poor Søren he will have his hands full
Frid o Fröjd!
Patrik
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Paul Mortimer
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| Posted: Sat 04 Feb, 2006 8:10 am Post subject: |
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Sounds jolly good to me. Now, when will the new version of the Kragehul be released?
Paul
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Lee O'Hagan
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| Posted: Sun 05 Feb, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds good news all round,
As Brit customs sometimes forget to use the exchange rate it'l be nice to see a price and know what your paying before the gamble with the customs charges,
Well done Soren,
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