I think that by the time Kate was marrying William, the business was doing well
I think they may sell now, as they are said not be doing as well and there is too much competition
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8240161/amp/Customers-slam-Kate-Middletons-mothers-party-firm-claiming-theyve-ignored-lockdown.html
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6894447/amp/Kate-Middletons-mother-bombards-staff-emails-docks-pay-going-dentist.html
It was reported that a publicity agent, a web designer and a search engine optimiser had been axed. It was also claimed that three warehouse staff had been laid off before Christmas.
▪︎Sales 'soared' after Kate and William's wedding in 2011... but an insider said the company is now having to contend with the buying power of Amazon and Tesco, both of which are selling party goods.
▪︎There were bans introduced on buying new stock – there was no money to buy anything in so we had to try and get rid of the stuff that hadn't sold, rather than buy in what was popular.
▪︎Staff arriving for work are required to enter a personal code into a computer. It logs exactly when they come and go and ensures that they have worked their allotted hours.The company accountant may then send Mrs Middleton the names of anyone who might have fallen short of their quota. Sometimes they may be emailed and given the choice of having money deducted from their pay or making up their hours.
▪︎Even time off for a dentist appointment might count against staff, claimed one ex-employee. 'I could understand having to clock in if you are being paid by the hour – but we were salaried staff,' he said.
▪︎There wasn't so much as a bit of tinsel at the office [for Christmas]. It was miserable. You would think a company selling party items would be full of cheer.
▪︎Another former employee said: 'If you disagreed with Carole then she would bestow her favour on someone else... You would then find you were being cut out of emails that were within your speciality.
▪︎We would have to work late or over the weekend because she hadn't signed something off until very late. She insisted on signing off everything but often she would disappear for hours. She was once needed desperately to sign something off but no one could get hold of her. I then saw her on the TV at Wimbledon.
▪︎One senior manager who spent two years at the firm said that the pressure-cooker environment eventually forced him to quit in 2014. 'I couldn't handle it,' he said. 'It got to the point when I was stressed... it was more or less taking me over, really. They kept promising me pay rises but it was all take, never give. I'd be sat in meetings with Carole and there would be what seemed like full-on family arguments. It should be a professional environment and I was hearing things, personal stuff, that I shouldn't, things that should have been left at home.'
▪︎One employee is said to have received 71 emails from Carole in one day.
▪︎Another staff employee - I've been in meetings where someone would leave, and they have clearly been upset, and Carole would turn round and say, 'Did I say that wrong?' Her communication style is curt... you will find people who take offence at that, and she should be better at adjusting to her audience.It bordered on clumsy and not reading the audience...'