Timpson, William, Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Timpson, William
- United Drapery Stores Ltd
- Timpson Group
- Oliver, George
- Timpson, Sir John
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Kettering, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, England
- Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, North West, England
Sectors:
-
Wearing apparel & footwear production
Footwear & footwear components production
-
Business services
Footwear repair & cleaning services
-
Distribution - retailing
Wearing apparel, footwear, haberdashery, mercery, etc, retailing
Notes:
Traces origins to 1865 when established by William Timpson, 1849-1929, and another as a shoe retailer at Manchester. Operated on his own account from 1870. Subsequently opened other branches, shoe repair workshops and shoe making factories. Had started to manufacture at Kettering in the 1880s. 1912 incorporated. 1929 public company. By 1939 had almost 200 shops, eleven repair factories and one shoe making plant. 1973 acquired by United Drapery Stores Ltd (UDS) which in 1983 was acquired by Hanson Trust Plc. Bought back by Timpson family and managers early 1980s. Shoe shops sold to George Olivers, Leicester, in 1987 and subsequently business has focused on service provision re shoe repairs, engraving, watch etc repairs, etc. Continuing in 2020 with c2,000 branches led by Sir John Timpson [2024]
Publications:
- High Street Heroes. The story of British retail in 50 people by Timpson, John
- My Father. Stages in the life of William Timpson by Timpson, W H F
- Seventy Years Agrowing; or an early history of Timpsons by Timpson, W H F
- William Timpson Ltd. A century of service, 1865-1965 by Timpson, David
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Timpson, William
- United Drapery Stores Ltd
- Timpson Group
- Oliver, George
- Timpson, Sir John
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Kettering, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, England
- Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, North West, England
Sectors:
- Wearing apparel & footwear production Footwear & footwear components production
- Business services Footwear repair & cleaning services
- Distribution - retailing Wearing apparel, footwear, haberdashery, mercery, etc, retailing
Notes:
Traces origins to 1865 when established by William Timpson, 1849-1929, and another as a shoe retailer at Manchester. Operated on his own account from 1870. Subsequently opened other branches, shoe repair workshops and shoe making factories. Had started to manufacture at Kettering in the 1880s. 1912 incorporated. 1929 public company. By 1939 had almost 200 shops, eleven repair factories and one shoe making plant. 1973 acquired by United Drapery Stores Ltd (UDS) which in 1983 was acquired by Hanson Trust Plc. Bought back by Timpson family and managers early 1980s. Shoe shops sold to George Olivers, Leicester, in 1987 and subsequently business has focused on service provision re shoe repairs, engraving, watch etc repairs, etc. Continuing in 2020 with c2,000 branches led by Sir John Timpson [2024]Publications:
- High Street Heroes. The story of British retail in 50 people by Timpson, John
- My Father. Stages in the life of William Timpson by Timpson, W H F
- Seventy Years Agrowing; or an early history of Timpsons by Timpson, W H F
- William Timpson Ltd. A century of service, 1865-1965 by Timpson, David