NIC Brunetti's piece in last week's Bucks Free Press on the closure of Bartletts furniture company was partly right, but perhaps not as intended.

"The writing has always been on the wall" for any business that fails to embrace change.

Furniture factories that appear on the 1930s High Wycombe map, like: Keen and Frank Hudson have continually re-created themselves to survive and prosper.

Adapting to meet the ever-changing needs of the market place, just as the original Mr Bartlett obviously did.

My own factory in High Wycombe was occupied in those times by Birche & Alpe Ltd.

Stewart Linford Chairmaker Ltd took over in the 1980s making a virtually limitless range of solid wood products.

Today's makers can offer a unique buying experience that causes incredible repeat business.

Our own workshops and showrooms are open every day except Christmas and Easter Sunday.

Jerome Bartlett was spot on when he said, "you have to be able to offer something very different that resists the cost pressures".

By applying that sound management principle to furniture making it certainly does not mean the end of an era.

Stewart Linford Chairman ,Stewart Linford Furniture Maker ,Kitchener Road ,High Wycombe