MILLION FOR IDEA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 91, 7 February 1947, Page 8

MILLION FOR IDEA

COUPLE'S AMBITION SHARE IN BUSINESS TO BE OFFERED TO PUBLIC Mr Hector Mackenzie Frazer and his wife Sarah, of Leeds, had £3OOO and a big ambition when they took over a small clothing factory 16 years ago. In 1939 they were turning out 37,000 garments a weekNow the Frazers are going to offer the public just over a half a share of their business with a capital issue of £1,150,000. They and their co-directors in Town Tailors, Ltd., are to hold approximately £500,000 of the shares issued. For sale to the public are 500,000 Ordinary and 150,000 Preference shares. First preference in the sale of the shares will go to the 4000 workers in their factories, who know Mr and Mrs Frazer affectionately as "The Skipper" and "The Mate."

In 1930 the Frazers took over one small factory employing 40 workers. In those days Mrs Frazer, in addition to being labour supervisor, was part-time saleswoman, and Mr Frazer used to deliver his suits to the shops. They bought their own wool; made their own cloth and linings. They produced suits at 30s, 35s and 40s—of a quality which is almost unobtainable today. They cut costs so drastically that if they had to make an alteration on a suit they lost money. Mr Frazer, ex-machine gunner of World War 1., now in his early fifties, told a Daily Mail reporter: We had a struggle, but it was grand fun. "My wife and I both worked at the factory and, on Saturdays we loaded our only car to take the suits to our only shop in Sheffield. We even helped behind the counter there. "After a 16-hour day our relaxation would be to take home a slice of ham, a box of chocolates, and a new gramophone record."

In the third year orders came in overwhelmingly. Bigger premises had to be found, new shops opened. By 1939 their Weaver to Wearer shops were established throughout North-East Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the Midlands. At the outbreak of the war there were 120 shops. The dream of the Frazers now is to get back to the cheap suit again—"as soon as controls are removed." "The Mate" still acts as labour officer, welfare officer, and shop display expert. And she and her husband work six days a week—minimum.