Comments on: Advice to a bespoke tailor http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:01:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dennis Howlett http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-418 Dennis Howlett Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:39:38 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-418 What would now be really cool is a cartoon showing how you worked it all out on the empty packs of Marlborough for handing out to all those accountant types. i'm sure the word f*@k is in there somewhere...which has given me another idea. What would now be really cool is a cartoon showing how you worked it all out on the empty packs of Marlborough for handing out to all those accountant types. i’m sure the word f*@k is in there somewhere…which has given me another idea.

]]> By: hugh macleod http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-417 hugh macleod Tue, 21 Feb 2006 02:34:27 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-417 It's only a brick wall if you didn't see it coming, Dennis :) It’s only a brick wall if you didn’t see it coming, Dennis :)

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-416 Dennis Howlett Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:22:35 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-416 The key question is 'What are customers buying?' Is it a service or a good? If it is a service that happens to have a good attached, then in theory, Hugh's in a strong position, provided customers are willing to pay for an enhanced service AND there is no reasonable substitute. This doesn't take into account external factors that might impact demand. I don't for instance know whether historically, there has been a demand constant. The key question is ‘What are customers buying?’ Is it a service or a good? If it is a service that happens to have a good attached, then in theory, Hugh’s in a strong position, provided customers are willing to pay for an enhanced service AND there is no reasonable substitute.

This doesn’t take into account external factors that might impact demand. I don’t for instance know whether historically, there has been a demand constant.

]]> By: David Terrar http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-415 David Terrar Mon, 20 Feb 2006 18:31:46 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-415 Hi Hugh, Maybe artificial is the wrong expression, but I simply meant you are planing limiting to 100 in the way an artist would for a limited edition print run. Obviously that's a slightly different type of business decision compared to deciding to only work so many hours producing suits, or deciding not to afford to hire another Saville Row tailor to increase production capacity. I agree that demand and supply need to be managed in their different ways. I still don't think a specfic limit by number, rather than by controlling production capacity of the artisans involved will add value to the brand. So I think the comparisons to an Aston Martin (or Morgan) are more valid than to the art world, and so I'd be advising Thomas to plan taking over the rest of Saville Row. Hi Hugh,
Maybe artificial is the wrong expression, but I simply meant you are planing limiting to 100 in the way an artist would for a limited edition print run. Obviously that’s a slightly different type of business decision compared to deciding to only work so many hours producing suits, or deciding not to afford to hire another Saville Row tailor to increase production capacity. I agree that demand and supply need to be managed in their different ways. I still don’t think a specfic limit by number, rather than by controlling production capacity of the artisans involved will add value to the brand. So I think the comparisons to an Aston Martin (or Morgan) are more valid than to the art world, and so I’d be advising Thomas to plan taking over the rest of Saville Row.

]]> By: Hugh Macleod http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Hugh Macleod Mon, 20 Feb 2006 18:12:40 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-414 David, who says the limitations are "artificial"? I'm not even sure what you mean by "artificial". If you decide to only work part-time, is that also "artificial"? Both demand and supply have to be managed. David, who says the limitations are “artificial”?

I’m not even sure what you mean by “artificial”.

If you decide to only work part-time, is that also “artificial”?

Both demand and supply have to be managed.

]]> By: Andrew Smith http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-413 Andrew Smith Mon, 20 Feb 2006 16:01:54 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-413 Just what I was thinking ;-) Just what I was thinking ;-)

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-412 Dennis Howlett Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:55:26 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-412 Wow - maybe she and Hugh should hook up? Wow – maybe she and Hugh should hook up?

]]> By: Andrew Smith http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Andrew Smith Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:27:21 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-411 Useful article - for my wife. She is a bespoke shoemaker. More at <code><a href="http://www.carreducker.com." rel="nofollow">Carre Ducker</a></code> Useful article – for my wife. She is a bespoke shoemaker. More at Carre Ducker

]]> By: David Terrar http://www.accmanpro.com/2006/02/19/advice-to-a-bespoke-tailor/comment-page-1/#comment-410 David Terrar Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:21:10 +0000 http://www.accmanpro.com/?p=491#comment-410 Dennis, Yes - I followed your suggestion and posted my contribution, which is to say that I believe Hugh's strategy is wrong. I don't think you can treat fine tailoring like fine art and artificially limit the supply to 100 number suits a year. The logical extension of this would be the suggestion made by somebody that he does this and auctions the suits to let the market decide. I can see that making an initial splash because it's so different, but not being sustainable. They can raise prices, but that begins to move them away from what you discussed as the core values of the brand - good value, hand made, Saville Row tailored, supervised by Thomas Mahon. Although I guess this really depends on whether Thomas wants a steady lifestyle business, or to become the Richard Branson of hand made, high quality clothes. If It's the latter, then he should be looking to takeover the rest of Saville Row and start some new brands alongside English Cut. Dennis,
Yes – I followed your suggestion and posted my contribution, which is to say that I believe Hugh’s strategy is wrong. I don’t think you can treat fine tailoring like fine art and artificially limit the supply to 100 number suits a year. The logical extension of this would be the suggestion made by somebody that he does this and auctions the suits to let the market decide. I can see that making an initial splash because it’s so different, but not being sustainable. They can raise prices, but that begins to move them away from what you discussed as the core values of the brand – good value, hand made, Saville Row tailored, supervised by Thomas Mahon. Although I guess this really depends on whether Thomas wants a steady lifestyle business, or to become the Richard Branson of hand made, high quality clothes. If It’s the latter, then he should be looking to takeover the rest of Saville Row and start some new brands alongside English Cut.

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