Tie Rack

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Tie Rack Plc

Type of Company	Private (taken over by Frangi SpA in 1999)
Founded	1981
Headquarters	Brentford, Middlesex, England
Industry	Retail (Clothing)
Products	Neckties and scarves
Website	http://www.tie-rack.co.uk

Tie Rack is a British-based necktie retailer which has recently diversified into selling scarves. Tie Rack operates in a niche market. The stores are often very small due to the nature of the product, and as such, are found in airports across the world.

Tie Rack was founded in August 1981 by Roy Bishko. The first store opened in London at 91 Oxford Street. Which had been converted from a heel bar which was owned by Bishko and from which he had trialled selling ties.

From Oxford Street a second store was opened at Bond Street Tube Station, followed by a shop in Londons Knightsbridge, which for a time was also the company's head office.

The first airport store opened at Glasgow Airport in 1984 and the current flagship store is located at 295 Oxford Street opposite John Lewis. There are now over 330 stores in 24 countries.

In 1999, the chain store was bought by Frangi SpA Group, and has since benefitted from this buyout by being able to sell products under the Frangi brand.

The store sells neckties as well as a wide range of both Mens and Womens accessories, predominately under the Frangi brand.

[edit] Trading Fascias

In 2000 and 2001 the company trialled two different fascias.

The first trial commenced in September 2000 at the Southampton store and this store was branded Le Collezioni - Tie Rack.

The second trial commenced in August 2001 at the Regent Street store, with a shop fit designed by Belgium Architect Pierre Vanden Broeck, and this store was branded Frangi - Tie Rack.

Both trials were rolled out to several stores, but it was eventually decided to remain trading under the Tie Rack name as this has good brand recogntion with consumers.

All new and refurbished shops are now branded with a refined version of the original Tie Rack logo and are sub-branded Frangi - Collezioni.

[edit] Rolling Luggage

Rolling Luggage is a subsidary of Tie Rack. It is a chain of around 30 stores, located exclusively in 'transport' locations, specialising in selling premium luggage on wheels.

In some locations, such as Glasgow Airport, there are dual-branded Tie Rack/Rolling Luggage stores.

The chain is also based at the group head office in Brentford and shares many of the head office support functions with the parent chain such as IT, Finance and Human Resources.