Indie menswear retailer to open second outlet
An independent Ilkeston-based menswear business is to open a new shop in Mansfield as it expands its operation to a second site.
Despite spending their its birthday in lockdown, Henry George Menswear has taken on a long-term lease on a newly renovated unit on Queens Walk on Mansfield Market Place. It will open when lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Luke Slaney, owner, described the opportunity as “too good to turn down”.
He added: “This is my first year in retail and it’s been eventful so far. Our Ilkeston store got broken into after one day of trading and then we have had to keep our doors closed for four months throughout the year because of Coronavirus. Despite this having an obvious huge impact on our sector, the support we have received from our customers, whether local or countrywide, since we started has been superb. So when we came across the Mansfield site, the deal was too good to turn down,” Luke said.
The family-run and owned business is headed up by Operations Manager, Ash Allen who Slaney feels the team has learnt a lot from in its first year.
He added: “Ash has years of experience in the industry and he knows it inside and out. When he pitched the idea and vision for the business, I was instantly sold. Part of this plan was to provide employment to one of my nephews, Dayne, 18, who is studying a Fashion Retail Apprenticeship through the company with Derby College. More recently, Greg, 22, another nephew of mine, who works for my other company, Precision Flow Screed Ltd, as a Site Supervisor, has invested in the business to help continue to learn new skills and help with the growth and expansion of Henry George Menswear.”
The company said it was attracted to Mansfield by the footfall and competition of its high street and a demand for their brands and product in the area.
Slaney said: “The Mansfield shop will be another learning curve for us and we can’t wait to see what the future brings once we all return to some form of normality.”
