This morning, I buried my mother’s ashes at Bingley cemetery. Now don’t worry – this blog is not going to be a dour missive, penned between racking sobs, tears cascading over my Dell keyboard. It’s a tribute to an incredible woman whose love of clothing is probably one of the reasons why I got into tailoring in the first place.…
This month Michelsberg Tailoring headed North up the A1, for our first trunk show to Newcastle. A ‘trunk show’ is basically where a tailoring firm offers a travelling service, packs up its bunches of cloths and examples of its work, and presents itself to customers, at a temporary retail location, or, another venue such as a…
December is my favourite month of the year. For me, it’s an opportunity to drop down a gear, and spend time with colleagues and customers on a ‘social basis.’ That means downing tools and giving the Michelsberg Kidney & Liver department a chunk of overtime. The Christmas road to excess started at the end of…
Michelsberg Tailoring Newcastle is now open for business! After months of desk research and discussion with our Newcastle based customers, George and I jumped on the train to walk the streets and finalise arrangements. My last trip to Newcastle was on a GCSE Geography field trip, so it was vital to get a feel for the place…
Today, the last piece of the Michelsberg Tailoring refurbishment programme fell into place. My Italian table and chairs finally landed. The table came in two boxes – one for the top, one for the base. Taped to the base was an Allen key, eight screws, four clips and…no instructions. “Don’t panic, Mr Mannering,” I said to young George. How hard can this be?…
This Sunday I relaxed with a gin and tonic and read a profile on Amancio Ortega in the business section of The Sunday Times. Starting out in life as a tailors assistant, he is the ultimate ‘rags to riches’ story. With a net worth of over sixty billion, he is the founder of Inditex, the…
Introducing Michelsberg Tailoring’s next apprentice, Mr George Lewis. Here he is below, signing his life away at Michelsberg HQ in the Victoria Quarter, Leeds. Formerly selling menswear at House of Fraser, he will join the ranks on September 11th. His initial approach to me was highly professional, and throughout the interview process, conducted himself like a gentleman. Polite, enthusiastic, with…
The former writer A.A. Gill declared that, “in your thirties, you are too old to wear a T-shirt anywhere but in the gym, you can’t do hoodies any more, or trainers, you should be able to tie a bow tie and you can’t wear shorts in the city. Forty is when you check yourself for all…
This month I had the pleasure of sharing my ten-year business journey with up-and coming start-up businesses, at a Leeds Enterprise Network event, held at the Yorkshire Post offices in Leeds. Whilst determination, enthusiasm, self-belief and luck have played a large part in keeping me on the right track (I’m hardly a big success yet!), there…
Five days after Christmas and despite my blood / alcohol level, I’m feeling bloody marvellous. There’s no doubt it’s my favourite part of the year. A time for indulgence, family and friends. Here I am, just before Christmas Eve, sinking a few (12%!) ales in ‘Friends Of Ham’ with my oldest friend Pete, over from…