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Jack Wills

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
British clothing brand
For the British trade union leader, seeJack Wills (trade unionist).

Jack Wills Retail Limited
Jack Wills
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
GenreFashion store
Founded1999; 26 years ago (1999)
(Salcombe,Devon)
FounderPeter Williams
HeadquartersLondon,England
Number of locations
24 (2024)
Area served
United Kingdom
Ireland
United States
Singapore
Hong Kong
Macau
Kuwait
United Arab Emirates
Lebanon
ProductsMen's fashion,
Women's fashion,
Accessories,
Homeware
RevenueDecrease£19.1 million (2024)[1]
Number of employees
135 (2025)
ParentFrasers Group
Websitewww.jackwills.com

Jack Wills is a British clothing brand founded byPeter Williams and Robert Shaw inSalcombe,Devon, in 1999.

History

[edit]

Peter Williams and Robert Shaw founded the brand in 1999.[2][3] Williams was 23 when the first store opened at 22 Fore Street, Salcombe, and it was created with £40,000 – the founders slept above the shop.[4] The brand was named after one of the co-founders' grandparents.[5]

In an interview with theFinancial Times, Williams said: "When I started thinking about a premium brand I dredged up this vision of what I remembered in Salcombe. I thought, 'What if I could create a brand that could bottle what being at a British university was all about and all the cool amazing stuff that goes with that?' It's such a uniquely cherished part of your life. I thought if you could create a brand that epitomised that it would be very compelling."[4]

The brand was a success, with a second store being opened inFulham, London, in October the same year. The store wasram-raided and was closed down, but a further store was opened inAldeburgh, Suffolk. As the business grew, Jack Wills stores were opened in places with universities or private schools, such asEton,Oxford,Winchester andSt Andrews.

Originally, it was heavily marketed towards university students, using the slogan and trademark "University Outfitters" to reflect the inspiration behind the brand.[6]

In 2007 the brand was partly owned by Jack Wills Ltd, aprivate limited company registered in the UK, while a 27% stake was held by the private equity firm Inflexion after aninvestment deal.[7] In 2011, the company was valued at £140 million, of which co-founders Williams and Shaw held a 52% stake and 21% stake, respectively.[citation needed]

In 2012, Williams debuted on theSunday Times Rich List, coming in at number 370, with an estimated worth of £200 million ($326 million).[8] In May 2013, Williams announced he was stepping aside as CEO to become a non-executive director. Former chief marketing officer ofVodafone, Wendy Becker, was appointed as CEO soon afterwards.[9]

In February 2014, it was announced that fashion designerRichard Nicoll was to become the new creative director of Jack Wills,[10] to come into effect Spring 2015. As of 2015, Williams was reinstated as working CEO on the board after the departure of Becker. Richard Nicoll also parted ways with the company amicably in autumn 2015.

In October 2016, Williams andprivate equity firm BlueGem became the joint owners, after long-standing investorInflexion left after nine years.[11]

Jack Wills collapsed into administration with debts of £100 million in August 2019.[12]Sports Direct acquired the business for a sum in the region of £12.8 million, significantly less than its 2011 value.[13]

Stores

[edit]
Jack Wills Storefront

Since the first store opened in Salcombe, Jack Wills stores have opened across the United Kingdom and internationally. At its peak, there were - as of September 2016 - approximately 70 stores in the UK, including eight in London, four inScotland (Edinburgh,St Andrews, Aberdeen andGlasgow), two inWales (Abersoch andCardiff), two in theChannel Islands (St Peter Port andSt Helier), and one inNorthern Ireland (Belfast). There were also eight outlet stores across the UK;Gunwharf Quays inPortsmouth,Banbridge in Northern Ireland,Bicester,Halifax,Cheshire Oaks,Street, Somerset,Swindon andWembley in London. In theRepublic of Ireland there was also a Jack Wills outlet store in theKildare Outlet Village, close toDublin, even though sales of the brand continue to drop in Ireland.

The most recent store to open in the UK is inMarlborough, Wiltshire.

In December 2011, Jack Wills opened inHong Kong with the launch of two stores, in Leighton Centre atCauseway Bay and inHarbour City mall at Kowloon.[14] In November 2014, Jack Wills launched its first store in Singapore atRaffles City Shopping Centre[15] with an opening party.[16]

By 2023, the website listed 31 Jack Wills stores across the United Kingdom (including 1 in Scotland, 1 in Wales and 2 in Northern Ireland). 11 of these were branded as Jack Wills Outlet stores.

On 11th November 2024, the original and flagship shop failed to open following a closing down sale, and the shop has been stripped. So it seems that this is the end of the 'Salcombe' and '22 Fore Street' branding for Jack Wills.

Products

[edit]

Jack Wills' products are branded with the signature logo of a pheasant with a top hat and walking stick. The company formerly published "Handbooks", which were released four times a year for each new season. The handbook was a signature print catalogue for the brand, showcasing the campaign shoots alongside editorial work and products available for the new season. Jack Wills clothing ranges from traditional British formal wear and tailoring, such as shirts, tweed jackets and blazers, to more contemporary casual clothing: hooded tops, sweatpants, t-shirts and polo shirts.

Marketing

[edit]

The brand's ranges are given a ‘private school’ and ‘preppy’ branding,[17] as the Jack Willspricing strategy means the clothes may not be considered affordable to everyone. Jack Wills feature sports-oriented, collegiate branding, for example apparel relating topolo,rugby, and alsorowing, such as the J.W.R.C (Jack Wills Rowing Club). Jack Wills' "University Outfitters" title reflects its target market: university students. However, the label is popular in both Secondary schools andcolleges. The brand does not use a conventional advertising model, instead relying on word of mouthviral marketing.[18] This is often stimulated by the events they hold such as the Jack Wills Varsity Polo, JW Unsigned and JW Seasonnaires. In April 2011, the ASA upheld complaints about the Jack Wills 2011 Spring Term handbook. The handbook contained some controversial images of young adults in a state of undress. In their ruling, the ASA said that "we concluded that the catalogue was sufficiently provocative as to present a risk to younger teenagers."[19]

Aubin and Wills

[edit]

Aubin & Wills was launched by Jack Wills in September 2008 as a sister brand, aimed at customers, aged 25 and up. Its slogan was "Modern British design inspired by the past living in the present". In November 2012, Jack Wills announced the decision to terminate the Aubin & Wills brand to concentrate on the global growth of the principal brand, with all trading ceasing by January 2013.[20]

The Aubin Gallery and Cinema

[edit]

On 20 May 2010, the Aubin Gallery[21] was launched, situated on the top floor of theShoreditch store curated by British artistStuart Semple. The gallery's primary focus has been to provide a platform for a new international artists and curators. Since 2010 the program has showcased the works of Tom Ormond, Piers Secunda, The Girls, Alana Lake,Alex Bunn,Sarah Maple,Adham Faramawy,James Howard,NERO and Yasam Sasmazer, among others. The 7,500 sq ft (700 m2) concept space also includes The Aubin Cinema which is run in collaboration with the members' clubShoreditch House.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Jack Wills sales fall as it cuts store numbers". Fashion Network. Retrieved17 February 2025.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^Vernon, Polly (9 May 2010)."Jack Wills: The Sloane Ranger Rides Again".The Observer. Retrieved19 September 2014.
  3. ^Bergin, Olivia (31 March 2010)."Jack Wills to open flagship store in Covent Garden".The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived fromthe original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved5 May 2010.
  4. ^abKuchler, Hannah (31 May 2010)."Business Diary: Peter Williams, Jack Wills".Financial Times. Retrieved19 September 2014.
  5. ^"Fast Track 100: 63 Jack Wills". Fast Track in assoc with Sunday Times. Archived fromthe original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved19 September 2014.
  6. ^"Jack Wills Jobs". Jackwills.com. Archived fromthe original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved12 May 2010.
  7. ^"Inflextion portfolio – Jack Wills". Inflexion.com. Archived fromthe original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved16 March 2017.
  8. ^Conti, Samantha (30 April 2012)."Fashion Figures Make London Rich List 2012".Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved16 March 2017.
  9. ^Harrison, Nicola (9 October 2013)."Jack Wills appoints Wendy Becker as its chief executive".Retail-week.com. Retrieved16 March 2017.
  10. ^Alexander, Ella (19 February 2014)."Richard Nicoll Named Jack Wills Creative Director | British Vogue".Vogue. UK. Retrieved16 March 2017.
  11. ^Marlow, Ben (1 October 2016)."Liberty owner in Jack Wills buyout with chain's founder".The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved16 March 2017.
  12. ^Menin, Anna (8 September 2019)."Not in the pink anymore: Jack Wills collapse leaves creditors out of pocket". City AM. Retrieved24 March 2020.
  13. ^"Sports Direct shuts eight Jack Wills shops in UK with others vulnerable".The Irish Times. Retrieved28 February 2021.
  14. ^"Jack Wills debuts in Hong Kong".FashionUnited. 28 November 2011. Retrieved8 November 2016.
  15. ^Gallezo-Estaura, Krisana (10 December 2014)."Jack Wills opens its first store in Singapore". Singapore Business Review. Retrieved8 November 2016.
  16. ^Rafael, Herbert (9 November 2014)."Jack Wills debuts in Singapore". WardrobeTrendsFashion. Retrieved8 November 2016.
  17. ^Ashworth, Anne (27 July 2007)."Sloane summer essentials".The Times. London. Archived fromthe original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved5 May 2010.
  18. ^[1]Archived 10 April 2011 at theWayback Machine
  19. ^"Campaign Mag Website". Campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved21 November 2011.
  20. ^Bergin, Olivia (23 October 2012)."Victoria's Secret News".The Daily Telegraph. London.
  21. ^[2]Archived 9 May 2010 at theWayback Machine
  22. ^"The Aubin Gallery".First Thursdays, Time Out. Archived fromthe original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved20 May 2010.

External links

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