Michelsberg Tailoring is ten years old!
Born on a kitchen table in June 2006, it crawled to “Queen Square,” a business incubator, and started “whipping the cat” – tailoring talk for visiting customers at their homes and offices – and operating out of the Malmaison hotel in Leeds.
Lavished by its father (that’s me) with boundless love and attention, it shed its nappy for shorts and Clarks shoes, setting up its first proper home at the managed offices, ‘Calls Wharf,’ on Calls Lane.
After a year of paying grown-up bills, it took the plunge, and headed out into the big wide world, signing a lease at the Victoria Quarter.
We’ve been here for five years and here I am with the new Centre Manager, James Bailey, signing a new lease with our landlord, Hammerson.
Since day one, I’ve delivered well over three thousand bespoke garments, and two years ago, took on my first full time employee, Charlie Anderson, who is now running the Manchester business out of Hotel Gotham.
It was a big step, and we are now really beginning to see some traction. As many of you know, building a business takes immense energy, desire, confidence and commitment. With Charlie’s efforts, I have no doubt he will assert himself at the top of the Michelsberg sales board in due course.
Whilst the aspiration is to become a shark in the sartorial sea, I still consider us a minnow.
The last ten years have been all about improving the quality of our garments, building a reputation for outstanding service, and defining the core values upon which we will move forward – loyalty, honesty, work ethic.
My dream is to train and build up a team of ambitious, self-starters, who are passionate about customer care and men’s tailoring, ultimately running their own tailoring businesses under the Michelsberg wing.
With Charlie now firing on all cylinders, my hunt for the next ‘apprentice’ has begun.
As a celebration of what has been a glorious decade in bespoke tailoring, I’m throwing a party for all my customers and suppliers.
The date is Thursday 15th September from 6.30pm, here in the Victoria Quarter, and whilst I always like to put on a good show, this one’s going to be special.
So, please, “Save The Date” in your diary.
If I don’t see you before for a fitting, or, further treats for your wardrobe, then here’s wishing you and family a fabulous Summer!