"I heard it on the grapevine"

[garinda]

Originally Posted by steve2qec

My wife tells me Gene Sutcliffe was a man who died a while back.

Could have meant this man.



Ran Gene's Jean Genie on the market.

He's still with us though.

[garinda]

Good Lancashire Telegraph article, detailing the history of this business.

Accrington's fashion Gene-ius celebrates 40 years (From Lancashire Telegraph)

[steve2qec]

[quote=garinda;935453]Good Lancashire Telegraph article, detailing the history of this business.

Accrington's fashion Gene-ius celebrates 40 years (From Lancashire Telegraph)[/quote
Wrong again Mrs 2qec !!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

She is the business.

Would people travel from all over the northwest, if someone else bought the business, and traded under her name?

Doubtful, in my opinion, unless they were as good at buying as she is, and provided the same level of service.

It will be very sad for the town if it closes.

I'm sure there ARE people in that trade who know the business inside out like she did Rindi, and would be quite able to carry on the business to the same very high standards as gene herself, just seems a shame that such a well established business of long standing should just die out like that

[MargaretR]

I was aware of her business but never used it.
I regarded it as the place used by 'ladies who lunch', and I never was in a position to spend exhorbitant amounts of money on designer clothing.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I was aware of her business but never used it.
I regarded it as the place used by 'ladies who lunch', and I never was in a position to spend exhorbitant amounts of money on designer clothing.

Neither was my ex-wife but she did

[garinda]

Originally Posted by jaysay

I'm sure there ARE people in that trade who know the business inside out like she did Rindi, and would be quite able to carry on the business to the same very high standards as gene herself, just seems a shame that such a well established business of long standing should just die out like that

Yes, but what l'm saying is if someone is that good they could set up their own business, for a minimal amount, without going to the expense of buying someone else's named store.

Good will in fashion is worth diddly squat, and someone else's held stock will soon date, and might not be what you'd have bought anyway.

I do know what I'm talking about. It's Gene herself that's valuable, without her, not so much.

Let's hope the rumour's wrong.

It's at odds with the interview last year in the Telegraph.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by garinda

Let's hope the rumour's wrong.

It's at odds with the interview last year in the Telegraph.

This is what she says at the end of the article you posted, G, doesn't sound like she intends to quit to me!

"It’s my life,” Gene said. “It always has been. There’s many years of fashion left in me yet,” she added with a wink.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Sara

Have being told that she's retiring in December, and her daughter does not want to take the shop over. So she has no option but to close up.

From the Telegraph Article posted by Garinda:

Gene’s daughter, Caroline Warner, 35, does the company’s marketing and assists her mum in selecting new ranges for the store.

Caroline and her mum travel to Paris, Dusseldorf, London and Milan to source the latest fashions, and Gene insists she has no intention of hanging up her high heels any time soon.

Reading this it sounds like the rumours are pretty much unfounded to me!

[MargaretR]

When you reach the your 60s your health can plummet overnight.
I was doing the Gay Gordons one week then overnight I felt like death warmed up.
This might be the reason why there has been a dramatic abandonment of plans.

[shillelagh]

my mum bought me a dress from there when i was 14 for my sisters wedding ... so not all the customers are 'ladies that lunch' ...

by the way i can still remember how much it cost .... £47.95 ... the scary bit is i only wore it twice more ..

oh and my mum got her dresses and hats for the weddings (we had 3 weddings in the same year) all from there .. and my mum was not one for lunching either!!!

It was the place to go to get the posh outfits from ...

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

Yes, but what i'm saying is if someone is that good they could set up their own business, for a minimal amount, without going to the expense of buying someone else's named store.

Good will in fashion is worth diddly squat, and someone else's held stock will soon date, and might not be what you'd have bought anyway.

I do know what I'm talking about. It's Gene herself that's valuable, without her, not so much.

Let's hope the rumour's wrong.

It's at odds with the interview last year in the Telegraph.

Well never thought of it like that Rindi, some businesses are sold with good will, never thought about the rag trade, which is obviously a bit different

[lancsdave]

I was told about this from a totally different source than here.

[katex]

It is a shame if this is true ... she had a place for women who liked expensive frump..

[garinda]

I've heard a rumour that she's very ill.

I'm sure we all would wish her, and her business well.