The Glasgow Clothing Company

THE GLASGOW CLOTHING CO., 59 to 63, Argyle Street, Glasgow.

    One of the most striking examples of the remarkable industrial and commercial prosperity achieved by the characteristic energy, enterprise, and determination of Glasgow men is afforded by the business house we select for special distinction in these reviews of the successes of the leading mercantile establishments of this great city of the Clyde. It is doubtful if in the whole of the United Kingdom — the Metropolis itself not excepted — another establishment could be mentioned, connected with this branch of commercial activity, of such magnitude as that controlled by the Glasgow Clothing Company, whose colossal establishment at the corner of Argyle Street and Dunlop Street, forms the subject of this notice.

    In order to convey an adequate idea of the magnitude and importance of this great undertaking it will be requisite to present to our readers a few interesting particulars of the history and rapid expansion of the Company’s business. Like most of our leading mercantile houses its foundation was laid in a modest and comparatively small way in 1870 ; the premises then acquired by the Company comprising the ground floor portion only of their present magnificent establishment, the whole of which now barely suffices for the requirements of their vastly expanded trade. The building, which was considerably enlarged and improved in 1878-79, now forms a strikingly effective feature of the architecture of this great thoroughfare, presenting a bold and handsome frontage to both Argyle and Dunlop Streets, one of the busiest corner positions in the city. The edifice stands on the site of the historically famous old “Buck’s Head” Inn, and is surmounted by the sculptured recumbent figure of a buck in commemoration of this interesting association.

    The interior arrangements and appointments of the establishments have been designed with the perfection of good taste, and essentially with a view to the convenient utilisation of space, to the exigencies of the warehousing of the immense stock required to keep pace with the ever increasing demands of the trade. The vast showrooms — we can find no qualifying phrase so appropriate in indicating their dimensions — are admirably lighted, and eminently adapted to the effective display of the immense and varied stock in each department, which, in novelty of design and uniform standard of quality and value, remains to this day unrivalled in the annals of this trade in Great Britain.

    The ready-made department for gentlemen effectually dissipates the erroneous idea that garments of this character are conspicuous in their deficiency of style, cut, and make, by an exhibit of the most superior quality of clothing, in which are apparent all the prominent attributes hitherto associated only with “bespoke” or ordered goods, and which would do no discredit to the productions of the leading West-end houses. All goods in this department are made on the premises, an efficient staff of first-rate cutters and workpeople ensuring the perfection of fit and workmanship, while the materials, selected from the leading manufacturers in the kingdom, are irreproachable in fashionable style and design. The “bespoke” department is by no means an insignificant item in the business of the Company ; orders of this description being executed with the exceptional skill only to be successfully attained by the unlimited resources possessed by the proprietors, and which has secured for the firm one of the best and most influential trade connections in the city.

    The juvenile department has been distinguished by the most extraordinary extension and development, rendered necessary by the rapidly increasing trade season after season, and is now, without exaggeration, the largest in the country, containing a stock which, for style, variety, value, and price, is not only unequalled but unapproached by any other house engaged in the retail clothing trade in the kingdom. Here may be inspected the magnificent display of boys’ clothing of the highest quality at prices offering an unprecedented inducement to careful parents of securing a saving of from 25 per cent, to 30 per cent, on their purchases for every description of either plain or fancy suits, for work, school or play. The Company also make a special feature of ladies’ tailor-made mantles and jackets and Misses’ garments in the latest productions for the season, in extraordinary variety and price, and which for fashionable style, and novelty of material, and finished workmanship, safely defy competition by any of their contemporaries in the trade. The remaining departments are those devoted to the gentlemen’s and boys’ hats and caps, and hosiery and outfitting, in which will be found an immense assemblage of these goods of the highest possible quality, and a splendid assortment of sporrans, brooches, and other accessories of a correct Highland costume ; dressing gowns, travelling bags and cases, and general outfitting goods in infinite variety.

    The services of a small army of active and attentive assistants, numbering about three hundred persons, are employed in waiting upon the requirements of the crowds of patrons who daily throng the establishment ; the whole of the business arrangements of this vast “temple of trade” being distinguished by the most perfect order, system, and regularity, so essentially necessary to the successful conduct of an undertaking of this magnitude, and under the capable control of the Managing Director of the Company the operations of the business work throughout with a facility and ease resembling a well oiled piece of mechanism.

    In concluding this necessarily brief description of the Company’s business we may add that the proprietors have recently given additional evidence of the “Up to Date” policy of their commercial career by erecting, on the summit of the building they occupy, an enormous sign, the letters of which are equal in depth to one of the storeys of the edifice, and which proclaim to visitors and residents of the city that the Glasgow Clothing Company intends to occupy in the future, as it most deservedly has in the past, the proud distinction of one of the leading commercial landmarks in this great and flourishing centre of mercantile and industrial activity.

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