Timpson is primarily a shoe repair business with over 750 outlets in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Timpson also offers key cutting, engraving, jewellery and watch repair, house sign creation and assorted other services, as well as retailing shoe care products.
Timpson's was founded in 1869 when John Timpson opened his first shoe shop in Manchester.
The Timpson's management team employs a very distinctive business method. There is a great deal of autonomy given to the small teams working in individual stores. The head of Timpson and descendant of the founder, another John Timpson, personally visits his shops up and down the country on a regular basis. During the Crewe and Nantwich by-Election in 2008 a Timpson store in Crewe displayed signs in its shop windows in support of John Timpson's son, Edward Timpson, the Conservative Party candidate.[1]