Homer Laughlin

What products are listed for this advertiser?

Made in the USA Bakeware , Made in America Bowls, Made in the USA Canisters, Made in the USA Carafes, Made in America China Place Settings, American Made Crocks, Made in the USA Cups, Made in the USA Mugs, American Made Pitchers, American Made Plates, Made in the USA Platters, Made in the USA Saucers, Made in the USA Teapots, and Made in America Vases.

FIESTA?, America's favorite dinnerware, was introduced by The Homer Laughlin China Company with great fanfare at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show in January, 1936.

FIESTA? was the creation of Frederick Hurten Rhead, a second generation Stoke-on-Trent potter who had become Homer Laughlin's design director in 1927.

FIESTA? was an immediate hit with the public and, by it's second year of production, more than one million pieces were produced.

The original five colors were Red, Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Green and Ivory. Turquoise was added early in 1937. The shapes of FIESTA? were created in an Art Deco style with concentric circles highlighting the bright colors.

The first six colors were produced through the 1930's and 40's until a change in fashion direction dictated a change to a softer palette of pastel colors at the beginning of the 1950's.
Color trends moved back to brighter colors in the early 1960's and FIESTA? moved with the trend. By the late 60's earthtones were in vogue and the dinnerware industry turned in that direction. Popularity of these colors proved to be short-lived and sales began to fall. At the end of 1972, FIESTA? was retired after 37 years of production.

The retired dinnerware line soon became popular with collectors, especially those who had childhood memories of this brightly colored dinnerware. As years passed, the value of the original FIESTA? colors and pieces grew as more people became avid collectors.

In 1985, officials of Bloomingdale's, the prestigious retailer in New York City approached Homer Laughlin about reproducing a dinnerware line from the past. Soon the two companies agreed that FIESTA? had the greatest chance for commercial success.

In early 1986, Bloomingdale's introduced a new line of FIESTA? with a new color palette and with improvements to the body and glaze. Homer Laughlin was the country's leading producer of restaurant china and it was determined that the new FIESTA? should be made of the same durable, restaurant- quality china body as the company's other products. The ceramic glaze would be lead-free, a comparatively new innovation in the china industry.

This new version of FIESTA? was an instant success and a new generation of consumers became converts to FIESTA's popularity.

Over the next twenty years, new colors have been introduced and FIESTA? has become a trendsetter of color for the housewares industry. In the seventy years since FIESTA? was first produced, there have been a total of 38 colors in the line.

Today, Homer Laughlin introduces one new color each year and FIESTA? has become the leading dinnerware brand in casual tabletop, as well as a consistent leader in bridal registries across America.

All the while, collectors have continued to add to the dinnerware to which they were first introduced by their mothers and grandmothers. Today, FIESTA? dinnerware is the most collected dinnerware in the history of the tabletop industry with well over one half billion pieces produced.

The following is a reply from Homer Laughlin to our question – "Are your products Made in America?"

All of the pottery (dishes) is made here in the US. The flatware, Pans, and linens are imported. Hope this helps.

The following is from their website:

As Fiesta began to flourish in the retail sector and Homer Laughlin was becoming a leading force in the foodservice china industry, the aging factories were undergoing many changes.
State-of-the-art computerized kilns were installed throughout plants 6, 7 and 8. Much-needed new forming and glazing equipment was installed and a self-contained "plant within a plant" was built at Plant #8. Homer Laughlin was preparing to enter the new millennium as the industry leader in both the foodservice and retail businesses.

By 2002, ownership of the company was shared by third, fourth and fifth generation members of the Wells and Aaron families and others. Many of the shareholders were scattered throughout the country and had little involvement with the business. In an effort to consolidate resources and provide improved direction for the company, Joe Wells III, together with his sisters, Jean Wicks and Elizabeth McIlvain, purchased the interests of the other stockholders. In June, 2002, Joe Wells III was elected president and chief executive officer.

Since the re-organization, the company has experienced continued growth and is poised to move forward with the Wells Family's pledge to continue producing quality, Americanmade china and provide jobs for potters of the Ohio Valley.

How do you know the products you have listed are Made in the USA?
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We immediately investigate any complaints regarding deceptive Country of Origin claims. If we determine an advertiser's claim is not truthful we will immediately remove the product/s from our database and suspend our relationship with the Company making the claim.

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What does Made in USA mean?
There is no law requiring most products to be labeled Made In USA, or have any other disclosure about the amount of U.S. content. However, for job creation purposes (see our Big Secret tab), if you have a choice between an imported product and one with no country of origin on its label, choose the product without a country of origin over the imported one. This is true because the product without the country origin on its label has at least some American labor in its content and the imported one most likely does not.

Note: Imported products are required by law to country of origin on their label and products partially Made In USA do not. To answer this question completely reviewing our Labeling Tips 1, 2 & 3. These tips are accessible from scrolling to the bottom of our home page clicking Browse All Tips button.