Laurie Hopkins Menswear Blog

As we approach the Spring Summer 2009 season here at Laurie Hopkins Menswear, I am happy to say that sales have held up quite well both Pre Christmas and during our Winter Sale despite the credit crunch.

We put this down to the weather as much as anything (although quality buying and a great sales technique obviously help!!!), this Winter season has on the whole been dry and cold - ideal conditions for a Menswear Shop.

We have virtually sold out of Winter Coats - obviously the weather plays a significant role in this but also we have seen coat sales increase steadily since the introduction of the smoking ban because people who previously have never owned a coat never mind worn one - now find themselves stood outside in the cold having a cigarette!

Knitwear has also been a good seller this season, again this we feel is down to the weather as much as anything else.

Leather coats, made to measure suits and other ‘large ticket’ priced items have also sold through well - maybe the consumer is realising that he is getting so little these days in terms of interest in the bank that they might as well spend.

So here’s looking forward to a good Spring Summer 2009.

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Well, it seems ages since I last posted, many things have happened; Christmas came and went (as did our 2 days off!! - still role on next Christmas when we get 3!).

The new year came in and so did the start of our GENUINE MENSWEAR SALE. I say Genuine because we only have 2 sales a year, they are our Winter one and the Summer one where the stock we ordered for our menswear shop that is left is sold at reduced prices.

So, were now into our second week of the sale and trade is holding up very well despite what the media would have everyone believe.

We have many bargains throughout the store including bargain rails where all the stock on these rails is half price or less.

So, why not call into our shop and grab yourself a menswear bargain?

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For a few years now, the humble scarf has been transformed from a necessity into a fashion item and this year sales of the Scarf have gone ballistic with sales of scarves reaching record levels.

No longer is your scarf just there to keep you warm, its there to make a statement about you and your fashion sense!

At the recent Premiere of the new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, a number of the ‘celeb’ guests were seen sporting scarves, not with hats and coats but with waistcoats and shirts, worn instead of a tie and in a similar way that your would wear a cravat.

Here at Laurie Hopkins Menswear we have one of the largest selection of Scarves available including, Silk Scarves, Wool Scarves, Camel Hair Scarves and even 100% Pure cashmere Scarves.

Mens Scarves - have you got a Scarf

So if your looking for the ultimate must have Mens fashion accessory for this season and need inspiration for a Christmas Gift Idea then look for a scarf and where better to look than Laurie Hopkins Menswear?

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When we buy for the coming seasons we tend to see many of our suppliers on different days and its not always easy to remember just exactly what you have bought from one supplier and another. Obviously we make notes as to what we have bought, styles, colours etc but getting exact shades is often difficult.

This season Jayne has put together an almost ‘perfect’ display of a Gabicci Sweater and Shirt, A pair of Meyer Trousers and another shirt from Melka.

A stunning display of Gabicci Sweater and Shirt, Meyer trousers and a Melka shirt.

The colours, shades and textures in each of the garments blend perfectly, complementing each other and creating a stunning combination of garments. Even if I do say so myself, we didn’t do a bad job with the buying from these ranges from 3 seperate agents on different days.

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This week we received a delivery of Milestone Leather jackets and as usual, they are superb quality.

Both jackets are Nappa Leather, ( Nappa leather or Napa leather is a full-grain leather, typically dyed, made from unsplit kid-, lamb- or sheep-skin by tanning with salts of chromium or aluminium sulphate, and noted for softness and durability. It is often used in high-quality leather products such as high-end furniture and accessories such as wallets and luggage. One example would be interiors of luxury vehicles - source Wikipedia) made using lamb skins and are extremely soft to touch.

Conker Brown Milestone Nappa (Lamb) Leather Jacket

Milestone Nappa Leather Jacket in Brown

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German Jacket and Suit house Benvenuto have launched a brand new exclusive fabric onto the market for their Autumn Winter 2008/9 Jacket range. That fabric is called CashGora and is a mixture of Cashmere and Angora.

Cashgora Jacket from Benvenuto

According to Benvenuto:

‘Cashmere and Angora: The best of both worlds.

Cashmere and Angora are two of the most valuable fabrics we have ever seen. No other materials are as soft, light annd precious as Cashmere and Angora.

Workers manually comb the rare animals to obtain a premium-quality undercoat hair that is not only fine and soft, but also makes garments that feel great to wear. After the combing, the fibres are spun with extremely fine wool and polyamide: Polyamide gives the jacket a robust, sporty look and makes it extremely durable.

Only in selected factories the valuable fabrric in addition with other high class materials will be produced to a jacket, which will excite you with its elegant sportiness and lightness.

CASHGORA - only from Benvenuto’

Why not call into our shop and have a look at the stunning new jacket range from Benvenuto and feel the smooth texture of the fabric that is Cashgora.

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As Elton Johns said in his now famous song ‘Its cold as Christmas in the middle of the year’, well this summer really has been a shocker hasn’t it?

If your feeling the cold, then why not get in early this season for your new Winter Coat? We have just taken delivery of 2 ranges of Cabano Winter Jackets.

Last season saw us selling most of our Winter coats very early, obviously the cold weather had a lot to do with it but we also believe that the smoking ban in public houses was also a contributing factor. We had many people buying coats who had never previously had a true ‘winter coat’ - so our advice to you this season is to get in quick and keep warm this coming winter.

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Today saw the arrival of part of our Autumn / Winter Gabicci collection, as usual, we received a selection of mens knitwear and co-ordinating knitted shirts.

This seasons ‘must have’ knitwear colours are Sand and Earth combined with Salmon shirts.

Call in the store to see the full range.

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Meyer Trousers

The prize for first into store for this coming Autumn/Winter (2009) goes to none other than (as usual) MEYER trousers of Germany.

We received our first batch of Poly/Wool trousers alongside a range of Cotton trousers on Monday as Jayne and I were in Birmingham for the Moda Menswear show at the NEC.

Meyer is one of our best selling trousers, our customers like the attention to detail that they show in their trousers, most of which have an added zipped security area in the right hand trouser pocket. This security pocket is ideal for storing a €20 note and or a credit card should you be traveling abroad and venturing into areas you do not know particularly well.

All Meyer trousers also come with a neat coordinating belt and a loop that us sewn into the waistband where the belt is fastened, this belt stay helps to prevent the ‘dreaded’ belt rise that you can see on many mens trousers when they stand up.

Why not call into our shop and have a look at the exciting new range of Meyer trousers available.

I have just been informed that we have had yet another delivery from Meyer today, a striped 5 pocket western cotton trouser and two ranges of winter weight cottons also.

At this time of year, Laurie Hopkins Menswear has new Autumn/Winter stock arriving daily - there is never a dull moment!

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