Barbour (company)
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing manufacturing |
| Founded | South Shields, England (1894) |
| Founder | John Barbour |
| Headquarters | Simonside, South Shields , United Kingdom |
Number of locations | 11 retail stores |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
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| Products |
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| Services | Repair |
| Website | www |
J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. designs, manufactures and markets clothing for men, women and children under the Barbour brand. Founded in 1894 by John Barbour in South Shields, England, as an importer of oil cloth, J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. has become well known for its waxed cotton outdoor jackets. The company's waxed-cotton jackets are so well known that some people refer to any waxed-cotton jacket as a "Barbour jacket," irrespective of manufacturer.[1]
History
John Barbour, a native of Galloway, Scotland, founded J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. in South Shields, England, in 1894 as an importer of oil-cloth.[2]
The headquarters for J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. at the time of its foundation was located at 5 Market Place, South Shields. The company moved the headquarters to Wimbledon in 1916, then to Simonside, South Shields, in 1981.[2]
The wax-cotton jackets are manufactured in Simonside, South Shields; most of the other products are manufactured outside the United Kingdom.[2]
Products
In addition to its waxed and quilted jackets, J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. offers sweaters, moleskin clothing, corduroy clothing, and tattersall shirts. Barbour has also entered the "waterproof-breathable" market with own type waterproof liners, cordura external fabric and polar fleece sweaters. Some Barbour products contain outdoor-orientated features such as snug-fitting collars, "storm cuffs", waterproof pockets with drainage holes and wide "game" pockets. In recent years the company has tried to modernize its range of products to appeal to a younger clientele while maintaining the traditional countryside range.
Services
Some customers keep Barbour waxed jackets for years, sometimes decades.[citation needed] Among such people, the wear-and-tear on the garment can be addressed by Barbour’s repair service, which patches and reinforces jackets. J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. processes a total of over 100,000 jackets annually at the Simonside, South Shields and other facilities.[2]
Marketing
Royal warrants
J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. holds royal warrants to supply "waterproof and protective clothing" that were received from HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1974, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1982, and HRH The Prince of Wales in 1987.[2]
Brand ambassadors
J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. promotes the Barbour brand by associating itself with people and organizations that represent a lifestyle appealing to Barbour's target customers. Since 2004, Lord James Percy has been a brand ambassador involved in the design and marketing of the company's shooting clothing. The Household Cavalry Polo Team and the E. J. Churchill Shooting range are Barbours' other brand ambassadors.
References
- ^ Ellwood, Iain (2002). The essential brand book: over 100 techniques to increase brand value. p. 175.
Customers ask for a Barbour weatherproof jacket, even though they may actually buy an alternative brand.
- ^ a b c d e "A History of J Barbour & Sons Ltd". J. Barbour and Sons Ltd. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
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