"I heard it on the grapevine"
 

so dont know if true ...

that JEAN SUTCLIFFE's posh dress shop on Abbey Street is closing and it may move to join up with MAUREEN COOKSON's in Whalley.

Sad if true, its been a part of Accrington for many years (and it would also mean ANOTHER empty shop!)

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

I think a lot of people would be sorry to see such a high class shop go....given the many threads talking about cheap pound shops.
Last April I had my annual group of retired farmer's visiting our place from England, when I introduced myself as their guide and translator and said i was from Accrington, a lovely lady from Cheshire (a Farmer's wife) spoke up saying she came to Accrington epecially to change her wardrobe at least twice a year at Jean Sutcliffes!

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

It's on Abbey St, it won't be empty for long, I'm sure the ever expanding chain store will find a use for it :rolleyes:

Also heard the Quick Return shop near the Jobcentre is closing next week.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Good god what will my ex wife do now:eek::eek:

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

I would have though the business would have been worth selling, especially with such a well known name, the name alone would be worth thousands

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

That would explain the closure rumours then.
Sad her daughter doesnt wish to continue, as it should "be in her blood". I believe Jean's maiden name was Cheetham, and her Dad has a plumbers on Nuttall St (guessing around the 1960's period)

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

apparently her daughter lives down south, so presumably doesn't want to move back up here.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Have noticed she has a web site with an on-line shop, so am wondering if she will concentrate on that when she retires. .

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

It's a far bigger buisness than a lot of people think, will find a photo

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Is it Gene or Jean ?

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

It's Gene. Sad to see it go, one of the last reminders from an earlier era when Accrington was still a quality shopping centre. Unfortunately, I think Dave's prediction will prove accurate. :(

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Could have meant this man.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...OgglM9wmdO3g_g

Ran Gene's Jean Genie on the market.

He's still with us though.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

[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 !!

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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.:rolleyes:

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Neither was my ex-wife but she did;)

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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.;)

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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!

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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.

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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' ...:p:p:p

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

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!!! :D

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

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

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

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Take it you weren't a customer Kate:)

Re: "I heard it on the grapevine"
 

Agreed -my mum was just a normal primary school teacher and went to Genes for some of her smart "work" suits. Her friend Barabara (another teacher) whose husband was a (sharp intake of breath) Mason, bought all her evening wear there for "dos" with her husband -i got to wear a lot of them as she leant me them for Uni. dinners and balls. Beautiful clothes, i couldn't afford them myself, but all us girls do like dressing up once in a while....:Banane23:

Sorry if she's having to quit through bad health though - that's real bad luck:(