Austin Reed (retailer)

Austin Reed was a British fashion retailer founded in 1900, and the brand was acquired by Edinburgh Woollen Mill in 2016.

This article is about the clothing retailer. For the memoirist, see Austin Reed (author).
Austin Reed flagship store on Regent Street in London (2011)
Austin Reed Group support services in Thirsk (2007)

History

Austin Reed was founded by tailor Austin Leonard Reed (1873–1954).

Timeline
  • 1900 - First London shop was opened in Fenchurch Street
  • 1911 - Opening of flagship store in Regent Street
  • 1929 - The first international outlet on the transatlantic liner RMS Aquitania
  • 1930 - The opening of the Regent St Barbers Shop
  • 1938 - Opening of a concession on the RMS Queen Mary
  • 1946 - Opening of a concession on the RMS Queen Elizabeth
  • 1940s - Winston Churchill was a customer here.
  • 1980s - The launch of Austin Reed's womenswear
  • 1998 - The Austin Reed Group acquired classic brand CC (Formerly known as Country Casuals) Richard Thompson acquired Chester Barrie from Austin Reed
  • In 2005, Kosugi-Sangyo was the Austin Reed ready-to-wear license holder in Japan with retail value of €50 million.[1]
  • 2009 - The Austin Reed Group acquires heritage brand Viyella
  • 2010 - The launch of the Q Club on the third floor of the Regent Street store
  • 2011 - Austin Reed move from the original 103-113 Regent Street Store to the opposite side (100 Regent Street)
  • 2016 - Austin Reed entered administration. Five concessions located in Boundary Mills outlet villages will stay open following a buyout by Edinburgh Woollen Mill.[2]

Operations

Austin Reed also owned the CC brand (rebranded from Country Casuals).

References
  1. Chevalier, Michel (2012). Luxury Brand Management. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-17176-9.
  2. "Retailer Austin Reed enters administration". Reuters. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2020.

Austin Reed is mentioned by Captain Peacock on the British situational comedy, "Are You Being Served."

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