Member Article

Manchester-based fashion firm on target to sell 1m items in 2020

Streetwear brand Jameson Carter has targeted 100 per cent growth this year - as the company seeks to boost the 400,000 items sold in 2019 - to one million in 2020.

They expect a return of £10m in 2020.

Founders of the Manchester-based fashion firm say much of their 2019 is success down to collaborating with Premier-League Crystal Palace footballer Wilfried Zaha.

The ‘Jameson Carter x Wilfried Zaha’ collection saw sales grow by 50 per cent compared with previous months.

And founders Jonny Dawson, 28, Craig Tideswell, 27 and Mike Jukes, 27 say they anticipate the sale of one million items in 2020 as they expand their ongoing partnership with retail giant JD.

Their items are currently sold in 144 UK JD stores - but as of later this year will also be sold in JD stores in 30 American states.

Mr Jukes said: “We sold more than 400,000 items in 2019 and as we continue to expand rapidly, a target of one million items this year is wholly realistic.

“We had a prosperous year working with the retailers which stock our products, such as JD Sports.

“Our collection with Wilfried Zaha - which went live in October and is sold exclusively in JD stores and on our website - has led to a significant spike in sales.

“The collaboration saw Zaha featured in the ‘JD Comes Alive’ Christmas TV advert wearing our products, which contributed to further growth.”

The TV advert coincided with the company’s national billboard campaign for ‘Jameson Carter x Wilfried Zaha’, which included advertising on 200 billboards across 11 UK cities.

Jameson Carter’s partnership with JD began in 2017, one year after the firm was founded, in 2016.

This year the company, based in Shudehill in Manchester City Centre, plans to expand its womenswear range - a move expected to contribute to the forecasted growth.

The womenswear items will be sold in 25 JD stores in the UK.

Mr Tideswell said: “This year we will be expanding our design and production team so we can focus more on womenswear.

“We want to grow our existing womenswear range to be on a par with our menswear offering, and we will be hiring designers specifically for this reason.”

The co-founders cite Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein as touchstones and also plan to open a flagship store in London.

Mr Dawson is the firm’s original founder and started out designing shirts before bringing his long-time friends on board.

The three are all from Warrington, Cheshire, and continued with their full-time jobs for nine months before the brand kicked into gear.

The partners used their £3,000 cash float - £1,000 from each - to trademark their business name, set up their website and purchase stock.

Mr Dawson added: “We’re all about longevity - we want to be here in 15 years.

“In the last three years, we’ve achieved incredible growth as a brand and we’re focused on continued expansion.”

Jameson Carter’s products are also sold through retailers FootAsylum, Very and ShopDirect.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jameson Carter .