Flannels

Did you know Mike Ashley the owner of Sports Direct bought the Fraser Group in 2017 the umbrella Flannels now sits under, 75 stores across the UK including their junior and outlet offerings.

All my friends love a trip to Flannels. We all love designer clothes. Me on the other hand have been really torn whether or not to support them. Mike Ashley the new Philip Green is said to worth about 3.8 billion pounds, three times that of former Topshop and BHS owner and scallywag Green and double that of formula 1 racing billionaire Bernie Eccleston.

I travel all over the UK as a haircare sales rep I am always killing time between salon appointments and love to have a browse and a shop. I love clothes and hate shopping online. What you see in the picture never turns up in my experience and returning is an absolute pain, I am sure this is something brands rely on, our inability to be bothered to send stuff back.

Although after watching and learning about Mr. Astley’s antics at Sports Direct on Channel 4 dispatches a few years back I made a conscious decision not to shop in Flannels. It has been tough watching my friends enjoy their new experiences trying stuff on and wearing and styling their purchases but I just couldn’t do it knowing potentially the company wasn’t acting in the right way.

Interestingly on the Flannels website I could not find any content about the ethics of the business, no information about supply chains, fair labour policies or ensuring protecting consumers against counterfeit goods. Customers in Plymouth claimed they had been sold fake Moncler jackets back in 2018.

I have also heard staff in store complaining about mistreatment, poor working conditions and zero hour contracts they have no choice but to accept.

The store at Fosse Park in Leicester opened a couple of years ago. The merchandising, the lighting, the mirrors is like nothing I’ve ever seen in Leicester before but at the beginning I tried 3 times to buy a lipstick, different brands, Guerlain, Dior and Chanel all three choices have not been in stock for months. So long I gave up.

That said the staff in the Leicester store this year got me shopping upstairs in the

Ladies clothing for the first time ever.

A new womenswear retail manager has taken over; she’s been there 18 months and she’s hired a few new people and instead of it being a dead experience, the store has come alive with assistants who are engaging with customers and making the experience much more positive (if not so ethical)

For the first time I shopped Anine Bing and Good American two favourite US brands I can only buy online and some Natasha Denona make up which I will review as it is the best eyeshadow palette I have ever tried.

Am I converted - I wouldn’t say totally, I feel sure someone with that much money, like Sir Philip before him couldn’t have done it without hurting people along the way, the big question for me would be has he changed his ways.

I’ve been in Flannels stores in the past where the designer brands like Alexander McQueen weren’t even pressed and to

expect any service when spending loads of money (for me) would be considered ridiculous.

The staff in the Leicester store are amazing, particularly downstairs in the make up area. I just hope they aren’t all on zero hours contracts and all leave.