Note: This text is reproduced from an e-mail that was posted to an old Yahoo! Group. As far as I know (as of April 2008), this content is still available from the archives of that defunct group — at least, if you have access, which probably means you need to be a member of that group.
TO — ALL STOCKISTS OF ALICE STARMORE(TM) YARN
FROM — ALICE STARMORE
It is with considerable regret that I write to confirm the statement issued by Unicorn Books & Crafts, Inc. to the
effect that the current range of yarns will not be available under the Alice Starmore(TM) label from 10th August 2000. The distribution agreement that has existed between Unicorn and I will cease on that date. The obvious question is – what has caused this state of affairs? I owe it to you to give an explanation, which I will try to keep as concise as possible while including all relevant details.
Unfortunately, my relationship with Unicorn has not been productive. It began when my business partner in the Broad
Bay Company announced that he wanted to leave and that he had received an offer from Unicorn to take over his sector of the business. I did not want the Broad Bay Company to dissolve, but my business partner had vehemently declared that he did not want to see another skein of yarn again. His timing was unfortunate and also somewhat inexplicable. It was August 1998 and yarn sales had been superb, given a massive boost by my Aran book. It was the start of the sales season, and we had a magnificent book in the shape of TUDOR ROSES that I had just spent a year writing and designing, not to mention organising the most complex photoshoot that I had ever done. The results were spectacular, and I found it incredible that my business partner wanted to leave at this particular moment. I was basically over a barrel at the worst time of year, and the proposed relationship with Unicorn seemed a pragmatic solution to the distribution problem. The Broad Bay Company was dissolved, although I retained ownership of all such copyrights, logos, etc that the Company had previously owned. All inventory was sold to Unicorn, to whom I licenced my name and trademark in October 1998, subject to certain agreements. From that date, my information as to what was taking place within the business dried up almost completely. For example, it was not until June 1999 that I discovered that far from having left the yarn business, my former partner in Broad Bay was working with Unicorn in the distribution of my yarn range.
This obviously caused me to ask some serious questions, none of which were answered. I realised that there had probably been a hidden agenda behind the demise of the Broad Bay Company, and I was not destined to ever find out what it was. To this day I do not know when my former business partner rejoined the business; or if indeed he ever went away; or indeed what his status is within Unicorn and the distribution programme.
Also in June 1999 at TNNA, I was placed in the embarrassing position of learning that a design competition had been
held some months previously, in which it had been assumed I had been the judge. I knew absolutely nothing about it.
These are salient illustrations of the chronic lack of information that has affected me since October 1998. A
further major example is the fact that I have been denied yarn inventory figures since June 1999 on the grounds that
these figures were suddenly classed as “privileged information”. I do not know the motivation behind this decision. To compound matters further, I was told by a reliable source who felt I should know, that Unicorn were planning to launch a new yarn from Jamieson Spinning (Shetland) Ltd – the same manufacturer of the Shetland yarn already in the range. This yarn was to include several exact colours from my range, but would not be part of it. Although it would ride on the back of the Alice Starmore range, no royalties would be payable.
At this point it became obvious that the yarn manufacturer and Unicorn had their own private agenda from which I was excluded, and it seemed that I could no longer do meaningful business with them. In order to test this hypothesis, I terminated the agreement that I had with Jamieson Spinning (Shetland) Ltd for distribution in Europe, with the intention of making new arrangements in this territory. European sales as reported to me only amounted to £2,500 for the whole of 1999, with a consequent royalty to me of £250, so if these figures were accurate, it was hardly a vital part of the Jamieson business. I took this step on 12th January 2000. The response came in the form of a letter on 11th February 2000, in which Jamieson Spinning and Unicorn jointly presented me with two demands that combined together to form an interesting logical syllogism.
1 Peter Jamieson of Jamieson Spinning (Shetland) relayed the threat that if I used any other yarn but theirs, anywhere in the world, not just in North America, then they would immediately suspend supplies to the entire North American operation.
2 In the same letter, Stephen Denkin of Unicorn Books & Crafts, Inc., demanded the addition of a new clause to our
North American distribution agreement: “Should Jamieson Spinning (Shetland) suspend shipments… Unicorn shall have
the right to cancel the entire distribution agreement immediately upon that suspension… if this is not acceptable
to you, this letter serves as notice of our withdrawal from the distribution agreement between us.”
I quote from my reply to Stephen Denkin:
Taken together, the new clause and new condition form an unreasonable and in my view, unethical collusive attempt between Peter Jamieson and yourself, to restrain me from pursuing my legitimate business activities outside North America. I cannot accept the addition of the proposed clause. I therefore note and acknowledge your formal notice of termination, and further note and acknowledge that our distribution agreement will terminate on 10th August, 2000.
I found it completely unacceptable that they should try to tie my hands while planning their own private offshoot
from the Alice Starmore range. I can only speculate as to their mindset. In my opinion, one possibility is that
they thought I had put so much work into establishing the yarn range that I was irrevocably shackled to it, and
would never dare to stand up to them, thus allowing them to treat me as they pleased in order to keep me in my
place. In which case they were completely mistaken: I am not prepared to play the meek little woman. The other
possibility is that they actively wanted me out, having figured that I had done enough work to allow them to coast
along nicely. Whatever the motivation, my relationship with Jamieson Spinning (Shetland) Ltd has now terminated
completely. A six month contractual notice period is currently running in my distribution agreement with
Unicorn, and my relationship with them will terminate on 10th August 2000.
So where does this situation leave me and the yarn range? The short and simple answer is – very much up in the air.
At this moment, my daughter and I have a small but very lovely children’s book just out. I also have the book to
celebrate my silver anniversary as a professional designer, “25 YEARS”, written, checked, beautifully photographed and ready to go to press for delivery in Fall of this year. I hope there is enough yarn out there to make the projects in the children’s book, but as I have seen no inventory figures for ten months, I cannot be sure. However, the book fortunately does include full information to enable accurate yarn substitutions. There is little point in
publishing “25 YEARS” with its 25 designs, so I am not sending it to press and this book will not be released. I
naturally have regrets for the work, not to mention the photoshoot and many other expenses that I have put into this
book, but freedom of the spirit has to take precedence over the pocket.
As to the former Alice Starmore(TM) yarn range. The manufacturers of the Bainin and Dunedin have apparently
ceased trading and so these yarns would have needed to be replaced anyway. The Fleet is alive and well, and I am
anxious to develop an alternative means of distribution. I can only assume that Jamieson Spinning (Shetland) Ltd will continue to produce the Shetland yarn and that Unicorn may well hope to get some continued mileage out of it, although they are contractually obliged to cease trading in it after 10th August. I will certainly never use it again, and neither will I republish the books that I produced during the distribution period of Broad Bay and Unicorn.
Please note that I own full and complete copyright to all my books, together with all photographs therein. The only
exceptions are the designs and photographs to which copyright is owned by my daughter Jade.
With particular reference to A SCOTTISH GARLAND, AMERICAN PORTRAITS, IN THE HEBRIDES, STILLWATER, PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, TUDOR ROSES and my designs in THE SCOTTISH COLLECTION – any previously given permission to reproduce any photographs from these books (including covers) in websites, catalogues, or in any other form, is withdrawn as from 10th August 2000. All photographs should be removed by that date. There never has been any permission granted to reproduce any other parts of these books, in any form whatsoever, and that will remain the case, protected by international copyright control.
With reference to my other books, including ARAN KNITTING, THE CELTIC COLLECTION, THE CHILDREN’S COLLECTION, FISHERMAN’S SWEATERS and CELTIC NEEDLEPOINT, permission is maintained to reproduce the covers in catalogues, but no other material.
I am obviously disappointed that circumstances have led in this direction, especially after so many years of hard work in writing, designing, teaching and generally building up Alice Starmore yarns. However, these circumstances dictate that there is only one course to take, and that is the course of action that I invariably follow whenever I discover a mistake in my knitting – take it out and start again, even if the piece is only a couple of rows from completion. It is the only way to remain true to the art. So I will apply my own knitting philosophy and do now what hindsight shows I should have done back in October 1998 – start again. Exactly what form the new start will take, I really do not know at this stage. I have just this week taken the first steps towards a new European yarn range, and that could be extended to encompass North America, but my experiences have left me naturally wary of following anything like the old system of distribution. All I can say is Alice Starmore(TM) will appear on yarn in North America at some point in the future: how and when, I do not at this point know.
I would like to thank-you sincerely for your support over the last few years. I take pride in the fact that with your help I have brought a wide range of cutting-edge designs to North American knitters and have extended the art of knitting in new directions. That has always been my aim. In some way shape or form, I shall continue to do just that: both I and my daughter Jade have books planned for 2001. One can only attempt to keep marching onward and upward.
Thank-you once again – and whatever you do, keep on knitting. I certainly will.
Yours sincerely,
Alice