Mike Ashley buys Gieves & Hawkes

[Vizard]

Sports Direct owner buys historic Savile Row tailor

The boss of Frasers Group said the move secured "a long-term future" for the 250-year-old Gieves & Hawkes.

www.bbc.co.uk

For any of you unfamiliar with Mike Ashley, he is the owner of Sports Direct and many other chains. He is very much a "pile it high, sell it cheap" merchant and the antithesis of everything normally associated with Savile Row.

 

[CottonTownBoy]

It will be interesting to see what The Frasier's Group do with this business. At least the ownership is back in the UK.
I've no real inclination to visit any of their businesses but to give them their due, all the failing businesses they have bought, they have had investment and are still going. The next two years are going to be tough for everyone in the UK, so we'll see how Frasier's ride this one through.

 

[Vizard]

It will be interesting to see what The Frasier's Group do with this business. At least the ownership is back in the UK.
I've no real inclination to visit any of their businesses but to give them their due, all the failing businesses they have bought, they have had investment and are still going. The next two years are going to be tough for everyone in the UK, so we'll see how Frasier's ride this one through.

Quite.

I go to the Row fairly regularly and don't get the impression that it is in rude health. So what ARE they going to do?

If they do what they USUALLY do, they will cater to the ultra cheap or footballer / drug dealer market. Maybe they will compete with Cad & The Dandy and offer cut-price bespoke and bring Savile Row within the reach of the masses. But I don't see a pent up demand for tailoring, waiting for more affordable prices.

I haven't set foot in one of their businesses and thought "this is great!". More usually I have had the sense that I have wandered into a mad jumble sale. Slightly scruffy shop fittings, shelves too closely spaced and a generally low-rent feel.

As you say, it is good that it is back in British ownership. I just struggle to envisage it continuing as anywhere the traditional Savile Row customer will want to shop.