FAQ'S
- The Company
- Terms & Conditions
- Order Requirements
- Artwork
- Quality Control
- Deliveries & Returns
- Agents
- Exports
- Country of Origination
- Brands
- Catalogue
- Trade Exhibitions
- Customers
- Ownership
- Awards
The Company
How long has the company been established?
Since 1985. Burns Crystal was founded and established in Mauchline, Ayrshire, (the home of Robert Burns) by an ex Edinburgh Crystal glass-cutter. The present owner, Arthur Levy purchased the company in 1998.
Terms & Conditions
What are your terms of business?
Credit customers, payment 30 from date of invoice. New customers, payment by pro forma invoice or credit card.
What is the position of Title of Goods?
The title of goods delivered by Burns Crystal is held until payment is made in full.
What are your carriage paid terms?
£300 UK mainland £ 350 Islands and Ireland
What, if I wish to place an order of under £300. Will you despatch it?
Yes, but the order will incur a carriage charge of £7.00
Order Requirements
What is the minimum order requirement for a special engraving?
One Piece. We can engrave one piece or manufacture an order of many thousands of pieces. The company policy is that all orders are delivered within the time schedule required by the client.
Can you engrave a one-off special commission?
Yes. We undertake one-off commissions for many different types of presentations.
Artwork
What artwork do you required for a new design?
A minimum of letterhead quality, either posted or e-mailed (as an attachment), but not faxed. Also artwork can be sent by email or on a 3.5" floppy disc or CD. A proof will be sent and signed off before completion.
What is the lead time when placing an order?
From receipt of your order we aim to despatch within seven working days. New artwork will take longer, as our studio will need to reproduce your design.
Quality Control
What about quality control?
Burns Crystal only purchase crystal products from factories that operate a strict set of quality control criteria set down by ourselves. Our Operations Manager, Derek Robertson and his team operate a strict set of quality control checks overseen in our factory. Each piece is hand checked before packaging.
Deliveries & Returns
How do you deliver an order?
We have a contract with ANC, who uplift from our factory every day. They, then deliver direct to you within 48 hours. We only use new cartons and ANC use small vans. This ensures that breakages are kept to a minimum.
What happens if my order is opened and I find an item broken?
A phone call to inform us will result in a replacement being sent within 48 hours, carriage free.
What happens if my order is opened and I find a box or carton, which is not in perfect condition.
Although we take extreme care when packing an order, sometimes an item, may be slightly crushed or the glue may separate. Again a telephone call will result in replacement being despatched within 24 hours.
Agents
Do you have any representatives?
We only employ agents, who cover the whole of UK and Ireland. Arthur Levy personally looks after major accounts.
Exports
Do you export crystal?
Yes, Burns Crystal has many customers in North America, Australia, The Far East and Europe.
How do you deliver your export orders?
All export orders are quoted ex. Factory. We have arrangements with global transport companies or can despatch by customers preferred carrier. We also meet client's consolidation requirements.
Country of Origination
In which country is the crystal manufactured?
Unfortunately we are unable to buy crystal manufactured in the UK. Our crystal is made in either Europe or the Far East. The principal countries of origin are Italy, Poland and Czechoslovakia. However each piece is hand-engraved or hand-cut in our factory.
Brands
I have a store that only sells Irish or Welsh products.
Burns Crystal has developed another brand called Celtic Crystal. The packaging for the Celtic Crystal range has the description "Hand Engraved by Celtic craftsmen" and the word Scotland is omitted from any descriptive text.
Catalogue
Do you have a catalogue showing your product range?
Yes. Upon request it will be posted by return. We also have a permanent showroom at our factory in Mauchline.
Trade Exhibitions
Do the company show at any trade exhibitions?
Yes we exhibit at the following venues:
- The Torquay Gift Show, Torquay, January
- The Scottish International Gift Fair, SSEC, Glasgow, February
- Birmingham International Gift Fair, NEC, Birmingham, February
- Expo Chelsea FC, London, March
- The Irish Show, Secausus, New Jersey, USA, April
- The Harrogate Gift Fair, July
- The Scottish Trade Fair SSEC Glasgow October
Customers
What type of companies do Burns Crystal supply?
We have a diverse range of customers who can be divided into three categories.
- Retailers, site-specific outlets and gift and card stores.
- Corporate clients who purchase a wide range of our products.
- Commissions of a one-off piece. Burns Crystal supplies most of the leading castles, country houses, cathedrals, golf clubs and whisky distilleries in the UK. We also supply all the leading gift retailers in the UK.
Ownership
Who owns Burns Crystal
Burns Crystal is under joint control of Arthur and Joelle Levy. They both work in the business offering a personal service to all their clients.
Awards
Have Burns Crystal won any awards?
Yes, in 2002, Remploy, in their Leading The Way Awards gave Burns Crystal an honour. The company were proud to be awarded 1st place in the Scottish Business Category. The company also sponsor The Mauchline Under 16 Boys Football Club.