Moss Bros Group
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| Moss Bros Group PLC | |
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| Type | Public Limited Company (PLC) |
| Genre | Clothing retail |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Founder | Moses Moses |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| No. of locations | 150 (including QE2 and QM2) |
| Key people | Keith Hamill (Chairman) Philip Mountford (Chief Executive) Michael Hitchcock (Finance Director) |
| Revenue | £17 million |
| Website | http://www.mossbros.co.uk |
Moss Bros Group PLC is a public limited company set up in 1851 by Moses Moses in Covent Garden, London.[1] Now one of the UK's top menswear stores, specialising in dress wear for formal occasions, Moss Bros has over 150 stores throughout the United Kingdom.[2]
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[edit] Company History
[edit] 1851-1909
- 1851 - Company founder Moses Moses opens the first two shops in London's Covent Garden. He sold second-hand clothing with the motto 'Sell only the best stuff, give only the best service'.
- 1881 - The company moves into the original King Street store in Covent Garden.
- 1894 - Moses dies, leaving the business to two of his five sons, Alfred and George.
- 1897 - The Hire Department is established with Alfred charging for suits loaned to his friend Charles Pond, who needed them to perform at musical evenings in large private houses.
- 1898 - The Covent Garden store is rebuilt and the name Moss Bros goes up over the door for the first time.
- 1909 - Harry Moss, George's son, joins the firm at the age of 13. He is destined to follow Alfred as the next 'Guvnor'.[3]
[edit] 1910-1952
- 1910 - The Military Department is opened following the successful kitting out of officers from a cupboard of military paraphernalia left over from the Boer War.
- 1914 - Outbreak of World War One. Staff sleep in the shop to keep up with the demand for uniforms. * 1917 - Monty Moss, another of George's sons and a member of the business, dies at the battle of Passchendaele.
- 1918 - The Saddlery Department is established in the basement at King Street with the purchase of the highly-respected saddlers Parker's.
- 1921 - Harry Moss becomes a Director at 25 and sets about developing the ready-to-wear business.
- 1924 - King George V's Private Secretary recommends Moss Bros to the first Labour Government for the correct 'levee' dress to wear at court.
- 1934 - Harry Moss becomes Managing Director. The Depression spawns the first of the famous 'frivolous' booklets, 'All at Sea', designed to put a smile on customers' faces.
- 1937 - Alfred Moss dies, leaving a legacy of quality and innovation.
- 1939 - World War Two, and most of the Hire Department goes into storage. Moss Bros opens branches in strategic locations to serve the needs of the armed forces.
- 1947 - Moss Bros becomes a public company and opens a Women's Department and hire service for evening wear and wedding outfits.
- 1952 - Death from polio of Graham Moss, Alfred's younger son. Graham, who won the Military Cross in Sicily, was said to be 'another Alfred in the making'.[4]
[edit] 1953-2000
- 1953 - The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II brings to Moss Bros the highest in the land - among them the Duke of Norfolk - for the correct dress for the royal event.
- 1955 - Basil Moss, Alfred's elder son, becomes a Director.
- 1957 - Monty Moss, Harry's son, also joins the Board.
- 1960s - The swinging 60s - a time of major growth. Moss Bros nears its 100th store.
- 1972 - Moss Bros takes part in the Ideal Home Exhibition in London in a feature entitled 'Invitation to a Wedding'.
- 1982 - The company acquires the cloth and clothing company Fairdale. The Suit Company opens.
- 1988 - Guild and the prestigious Beale & Inman in London's New Bond Street. Rowland Gee, Cecil Gee's son, appointed Group Managing Director.
- 1989 - Closure of large King Street site in February and transfer of Head Office to Clapham, its current location.
- 1991 - Moss Bros returns to King Street, Covent Garden, opening a traditional Moss Bros store complete with barber's shop and large hire department opposite the original site.
- 1992 - Acquired Dormie.
- 1996 - Moss Bros buys the Blazer chain from Storehouse and sets up franchise agreements with Hugo Boss and Canali, enabling the company to run stand-alone stores for them in the UK.
- 2000 - The first Canali boutique is opened in New Bond Street.[5]
[edit] 2000-2008
- 2001 - The Group launches the Code brand in response to the 'dress-down' trend of the time. Forty established Moss Bros or Savoy Taylors Guild outlets are converted to Code stores. These prove only partially successful.
- 2002 - Adrian Wright leaves Bluewater, Europe's largest retail destination, to become Chief Executive of the Moss Bros Group. He strengthens the management team, axes the Code brand, leads a period of consolidation and sets a new strategic direction.
- 2003 - Moss Bros Hire opens its first concession on Cunard's QE2 cruise liner.
- 2003 - Moss Bros Group announces partnership with Ascot Racecourse Limited to produce the Royal Ascot Collection, formal wear to buy or hire for extra special occasions.
- Present - Philip Mountford is appointed Chief Executive taking over from Adrian Wright who stands down to pursue other interests. The Company announces that it has returned to profit for the financial year ended 31 January 2004 for the first time in four years.[6]
