The Way Forward
Peter Lucas, Chairman & Chief Executive
By now you should all be aware of the structural changes that we have made within the business ready for our new financial year. These changes have been well considered and should secure our long term profitability and put us in a position for future expansion; acquisition and growth.
This issue of Off the Cuff covers some of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the Group. I am also delighted to be able to confirm to you that this year we will hold a road show in Leeds on Friday 14th July when Mark and myself will explain our strategies and the opportunities for the future. Also presenting will be Kevin Stone who has just joined the Company board with special responsibilities for our brand development and marketing and I would like to welcome him to the Group. Kevin will be talking about his views on our brands and their future direciton.
Within our Overseas Division I would like to congratulate Andy Schofield on his appointment as Area Manager for the American Forces business in the US and Mike Coates as Area Manager for the US economy stores. I would also like to congratulate Keith Ashby on his new role as Group Made to Measure Controller based in Goole.
Finally we are in the process of putting together a new Company Profile document and I hope to be able to issue this to you all at the same time as the road show.
May I wish you good luck and good trading for the next financial year.
Kevin Stone joins BMB as Marketing Director for the whole BMB business and Sales Director for our wholesale brands.
Kevin has a long track record working within the retail industry. He has worked with Next, and Triumph International (Lingerie), Sales & Marketing Director with Fred Perry and Sales & Marketing Director with Ben Sherman. In the last three years Kevin has worked as a consultant "The Stone Consultancy" working on a range of projects including Baracuta, Hardy Amies, Lee Cooper, Alan Paine, Gabicci, Puffa (all British Heritage brands) as well as Sports Marketing for St Andrews Golf Club, Manchester United (hard as a Leeds fan) and on Robbie Williams licensing programme (tough assignment).
Kevin's ambitions with BMB are to drive forward the brand building excellence and deliver great products, supported by realistic and consistent brand marketing, underpinned with excellent customer relations.
It's All In The Label
The new-look brand is sprightlier than ever with a couple of new tricks up its well tailored sleeve.
BMB has given a fresh lease of life to its stock service suiting brand The Label. Its new online ordering system - launched at Moda - means retailers can order at any time of day they want. EAch retailer will be given a unique password to log-on to the web sales - and delivery can be turned around in 24 hours.
On top of that, The Label has an updated logo, new garment tagging and labelling and a revamped brand identity that will be highlighted by the most significant marketing drive in the brand's history.
Russell Miles commented, "The work that has been done to date on The Label has enabled us to create a comprehensive collection, perfect for the target audience. The Label brand has actually been around since the early 80s, and not too many people appreciate that. Now the foundations have been successfully established, we are building on this sound reputation, raising consumer awareness and giving the retailers what they want to assist their sales. That's what it's all about."
There are 16 different fabrics to choose from on the stock service - all available as mix and match seperates - this will increase to a maximum of 21 fabrics by autumn '06. Sizes go up to 54in chest and 50in waist, which means The Label pretty much has it covered when it comes to the UK male. The bestsellers tend to be the 2SB and 3SB styles with side vents, and with an option of plain or single pleat trousers on a selection of the fabrics.
Top Gunn
Nestling in the quiet traditional town of Stamford lies a two-flor shop in the high street trading as a discount shop named Chiron.
Transformed over a period of three months starting with electrical, emergency lighting and renovation to the top floor areas the all new Aston and Gunn opened its doors on Monday 13th March.
We have re-modelled the shop to its core values; on the first floor we have the traditional men's suit collection with dedicated shirt tie bar and special occasions / made to measure facility. Original oak fixtures, new carpet, small wood floor areas and new lighting complete the look. The ground floor needed to be as light as possible. Casual collections are displayed on pure white 'dot' system with feature shelves, and background graphics to specific brands. Large lifestyle and local landmark graphics create a modern look. All in all it's Stamford's New Top Gunn.
Corporate Visit To The Red Arrows
On Tuesday 17th January a party of guests made an annual visit to spend a day with the red arrows. During the course of this lovely day our guests were invited to sit in on the pre-flight briefing and then were taken out to the control tower to watch the display, made up of the three new pilots and four of the existing team. It was a wonderful display, but in the words of the leader, Dicky Patounas, ready for some more hard work.
Our guests were then invited to the de-briefing, where we were shown a video of the display. Faults were found by all of the team on their performance and they planned to have another sortie later that day.
Lunch was served for the guests and team in the pilots mess and very interesting questions were asked of the pilots with suitably revealing answers. This was followed by a tour around the hangers and the chance for our guests to be shown details of the hawk fighter that the Reds fly. In all a very pleasant day, which enjoyed by all.
Measuring Up
The newly acquired business Addison & Steele needed new offices and showrooms near the West End. 33 Margaret Street was the answer, on the second floor and covering some 1,000 sq ft. "It was a large open area when I first went in prior to Christmas" said Steve Parr who was tasked with getting the staff in prior to the holidays. Within 10 days we had the basic layout of showroom, meeting room, fitting room and the open plan offices. Finishes include a French wood floor, with bold striped wallpaper and leather settees. Strong black and white graphics enhance the walls. The fitting room is a private area for customers to try on their immaculate made to measure suit. WELCOME ABOARD!
Introducing Our New Improved Made to Measure Package
To enhance our tailor's service the new Made to Measure Package will give a comprehensive overview of what we are now able to offer with increased flexibility to the customer.
This package has been sent out to our top wholesale customers. The new dual purpose bunch holder can be a travel case so it can be carried between appointments or simply displayed in store for customera' reference. Four new bunches include some of the most popular cloths in addition to introducing several new prestigious and elegant fabrics enabling our customers to create distinctive, superior suits.
The new guide details our standard and supergrade specifications as well as introducing four different blocks and numerous new styling options.
We hope that this new pack represents an enhanced and exciting new range presentation.
We're On The Road Again...
In 2006 the BMB team will be staging the following conferences:
- 14-07-2006
Communication session at the Armories (Retail, Head Office, Goole and Hartlepool). - 14-07-2006
Retail / Wholesale Conference - 03-10-2006
Alexandre Overseas Conference, Washington - 06-10-2006
Alexandre Overseas Conference, Frankfurt
25 years service
Sandra Andrews, Assistant Merchandiser within our Overseas Sales Office, has clocked up 25 years service with BMB and was presented with a Mont Blanc pen and bouquet of flowers from teh company to mark this milestone.
Sandra worked for the majority of her career within the Quality Control area of the business and now has special responsibility for the Royal Household garments, along with her Overseas duties. She is pictured here being presented with her gifts by Tracey Roberts, Overseas Brand and Sales Office Manager.
Gold Certificate
Richard Carey based at Aston & Gunn Stamford receiving his Passport to Success Gold Award by Charlie Cottam, slaes and training co-ordinator.
Silver Awards for Overseas Employees
Two of our Overseas based employees are pictured being presented with the Passport to Success Silver Awards by their Area Manager, Bernie Collins.
Paul Kerslake is our Manager in Vilseck, Germany and Robbie Miller is Assistant Manager in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
The training for these Silver Awards was ably organised by our Training Co-ordinator in Europe, John Collins.
Shopfit Update
Proving to be gathering speed is the next shop fit programme, which was kicked off by Debenhams Lincoln. Fitted out with the latest concept which runs through to new builds in Debenhams Doncaster, Workington, Cheltenham, Aberdeen and Barrow all get a complete makeover while Eastbourne, Townton receive an enhancement. Allders Croyden is to receive the first ever Baracuta and Gibson shop in shop. Camp Hopson Newbury opens in mid May with a full concession area from suits to Special Occasions.
Question Time
We all need someone to look up to - someone we admire for their achievements, whatever those may be. BMB asked Keith Ashby, Group Made to Measure Controller, prominent in his own field, who and what inspires him these days and why...
- What was your ambition when you were 10? A life in the theatre, probably a stage manager, I was keen on organisation even then. Always told my younger brother what to spend his pocket money on before I spent mine.
- What was your earliest retail memory? Upsetting the Base commander at RAF Lakenheath, he insisted the checks on his Royal Stewart tartan jacket I'd ordered for him matched on every seam,an impossibility with his 5' 4" barrel figure but I just couldn't get him to see it that way.
- Were you a star pupil at school? Not academically but starred in a few school plays that set me off on a life long enthusiasm and appreciation for the theatre and dramatic arts.
- What are your qualifications? My mose useful qualification is 33 years in retail experience but prior to that, 4 years studying art and colour gave me a good grounding for the fashion industry.
- What was your first proper job? Apprenticed painter and decorator, soon realised it wasn't for me but stuck it out and graduated the 5 year apprenticeship including another four years in college.
- What were you doing when you were 21 & how much were you being paid? Trying to get a £50 per week job with Reed Paper Group (Crown Paints) as a trainee technical sales rep, didn't get called back for the second interview and whilst sharing my disappointment with friend Alan Boxall (former Alexandre ASM) he offered me a job as an Export Branch manager and I've been in the business ever since.
- How was your first day at BMB? Setting foot inside what looked like a garden shed at RAF Mildenhall and finding out that this was the shop where I was to spend the next two happy and successful years selling mead-to-measure fashion suits to American Servicemen.
- When did you get your first career break? In 1979 when I was promoted to Export Marketing Manager and moved to the then UDST Head Office on Kirkstall Roads in Leeds.
- Who has had the greatest influence on your career & why? Thanks to Peter Lucas, I met Rear Admiral Sir John Cox RN, mentor and former tutor with John Garnett's Industrial Society (RUNGE). I learnt much about life and leadership from his guidance on this course in 1984. We kept in touch long after the course ended.
- Which other sector would you enjoy working in most? Marketing and creative design, Steve Parr gets some good projects!
- Describe the best day at work you've ever had. There have been many but the earliest was a phone call in 1975 from then Export Controller Peter Tarpey. I'd been selected to manage our new shop onboard the QE2 and would be sailing to New York the following week. Sadly, it didn't last long, we didn't sell enough Harris Tweeds - (not what you'd expect to find on an ocean liner) but a great experience none the less.
- Describe your worst day. Undoubtedly 11th September 2001. Witnessing on American TV the acts of terrorism in New York and receiving a frantic phone call from one of my managers working in The Pentagon shortly before the 3rd plane exploded into the side of the building. Thankfully, her survived and we were all relieved to hear from him several hours later.
- Are you a workaholic? WHen you're fortunate enough to have worked in different roles in different countries and enjoyed almost every aspect of your job it sometimes seems to others like you can't get enough of it but my wife Anne has been a good regulator balancing work and social life.
- Which personal characteristics & skills have propelled you in your career? Social and organisational skills, drive and enthusiasm and a willingness to accept new challenges and give opportunities to others.
- What excites you about your job? The scope and privilege of heading the company's retail business in America and having a great sales team around me just as if it were my own business.
- What irritates your colleagues about you? My motivation and persistent optimism with perhaps a little over enthusiasm and too much attention to detail sometimes.
- Whoe shoes would you love to be in? Richard Branson, a slef made man and successful entrepeneur. It must be a great life to be ablt to fly anywhere in the world on your own fleet of luxury airliners.
