Partner Article

Getting shirty nationwide

British shirtmaker T.M.Lewin has enjoyed a year of soaring sales on the back of an aggressive nationwide expansion programme.

The retailer, which has an outlet on Market Street in Newcastle, opened 12 new stores in 2009 in its bid to bring its quality tailoring to all corners of the UK.

Geoff Quinn, managing director of T.M.Lewin, said: “While many retailers across the country have tightened their belts, T.M.Lewin has been investing heavily following a year of rapid growth. Sales of over £78m in 2009 produced a 23% increase in earnings to nearly £13m.”

The shirtmaker, which sells two million shirts each year, was founded in 1898 in London’s Jermyn Street and until 2000 operated from only four stores. This year the retailer will launch 11 more UK sites to take the network up to 90 stores and eight concessions.

Business wear sales are the mainstay of the T.M.Lewin’s business and the upmarket shirtmaker is relaunching its corporate scheme to a wider audience. Mr Quinn said: “Newcastle has a thriving business community and many of the city’s professionals – solicitors, accountants and those working in the banking and insurance fields – are customers. They appreciate the tremendous quality of our products and know they are available at prices which compete with high street brands.”

Employees of some of the city’s major firms already benefit from corporate discount schemes and T.M.Lewin is already pursuing similar deals with other businesses in the region.

This year, T.M.Lewin will be opening a number of stand alone womenswear shops as they collar more of the market in ladies fashion. The retailer also has a burgeoning international internet trade and is expanding its network of outlets outside the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .