Timpson (retailer)

Timpson is a British multinational retailer specialising in shoe repairs, key cutting, locksmith services and engraving, as well as dry cleaning and photo processing. The company also offers mobile phone repairs, jewellery and watch repair, and custom-made house signs. It is based in Wythenshawe, Manchester,[2] and currently has over 2155 outlets in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Timpson Ltd
TypePrivate limited
IndustryService industry
Founded1865 (1865)
FounderWilliam Timpson
Headquarters
Wythenshawe, Manchester
,
England
Number of locations
2100 (owned stores) with
110 Snappy Snaps franchises[1]
Area served
United Kingdom, Ireland
Key people
Services
  • Shoe repairs
  • Watch repair
  • Engraving
  • Mobile phone repairs
  • Dry cleaning
  • Photo processing
Revenue£330M
£31M
OwnerJohn Timpson & family
Number of employees
5400
Subsidiaries
  • Max Spielmann
  • Timpson Key & Locker Solutions
  • Johnsons Cleaners UK
  • Snappy Snaps!
  • Timpson Property Investments
  • Photographic Retail 2008 Limited
  • Timpson Chef Academy Community Interest Company
  • Timpson Ireland Limited
  • Timpson Sol Limited
Websitewww.timpson.co.uk

In January 2014, Timpson purchased the photographic services franchise, Snappy Snaps, increasing its store count by 118.[2][3] In January 2017, Timpson purchased the dry-cleaning business Johnsons Cleaners UK for £8.25m,[4] and together with their purchase of Morrisons Dry Cleaning business they are now the largest Dry Cleaning operators in the UK. Over half of Timpson shops are located in out of town locations, including in 550 Pods.

History
Timpson Shoes in Radcliffe in 1966

Timpson was founded in 1865 by shoemaker William Timpson and his brother-in-law Walter Joyce, selling shoes at 298 Oldham Road, Manchester.[5][6] It expanded into shoe manufacturing in 1884 at factories in Kettering, and repairs in 1903. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1929. In the 1950s, turnover was around £10,000,000 and profits £900,000.[7] The company moved its headquarters to Wythenshawe in 1964.[8]

In the early-1960s, family member and graduate of the University of Nottingham John Timpson returned from a post-graduate management training scheme to join the family-owned business, becoming director responsible for buying in 1970.[6] In 1973, after John's father Anthony was ousted as chairman by his uncle Geoffrey,[7] the company was acquired for £28,600,000 by United Drapery Stores.[5][7] John stayed with the firm, became managing director of leather and fur retailers Swears & Wells, then in 1975; appointed managing director of the former family business, William Timpson Ltd.[6]

In 1983, John led a £42,000,000 management buyout of William Timpson from then-owners Hanson Trust plc.[5] To raise funds, £30,000,000 came from selling the freeholds of the firm's stores and leasing them back, the rest via debt financing from venture capitalists.[9] After four years of poor trading, to reduce debt on the balance sheet, the company sold the loss-making shoe retail business for £15,000,000 to rival George Oliver,[7] and focused on building the shoe repairing and key cutting business.[5][6]

After diversifying into engraving, watch repairs, dry cleaning and photo processing, John Timpson bought the other shareholders out in 1993.[9] The company then went on the acquisition trail, buying:[6] 40 Persil Service concessions located in Sainsbury's stores in June 2008;[5] 187 digital photo shops branded Klick and Max Spielmann in December 2008;[5] 139 digital photo shops from Tesco, plus its instant kiosk business and online business, in February 2014;[10] 200 Johnson Cleaners stores, including the Jeeves of Belgravia and Jeeves International, purchased from Johnson Service Group in January 2017.[11]

John Timpson wrote the book Dear James, in which he passes on to his son the lessons learned in thirty years as a chief executive. His second book How to ride a Giraffe describes his business philosophy. Timpson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2008 for services to the retail industry.[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company closed its 2150 stores along with many other retailers.[12]

Timpsons on the Market Place in Wetherby, West Yorkshire (2013)

Employment practices

The company has a final salary pension scheme in place, owns holiday homes for workers, gives staff their birthdays off, and pays bonuses for exceeding targets.[5] In 2007, to celebrate growing from £500,000 profit to £12m in 20 years of trading, Timpson's launched the "Dream Come True" programme for staff, which over 12 months paid for eye operations, reunited families and sent staff on trips to Australia.[7] The business has been in the top 10 of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For every time it has entered.[7] The company has a policy of employing ex-offenders across the group, over 10% of its workforce, and runs pre-release training in several prisons.[13][14][15][16]

References
  1. "About Us - Mobile phone repairs, locksmiths, key cutting and more". Timpson. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. "Timpson eyes future growth after record profit - Insider Media Ltd". www.insidermedia.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  3. "Timpson swoops for Snappy Snaps". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  4. "Timpson buys high street dry cleaners". The Business Desk. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  5. David Teather (3 April 2009). "John Timpson, the cobbler who is showing his rivals a clean pair of heels". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  6. "Meet The Timpsons". www.timpson.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  7. Joanna Higgins (9 September 2007). "John Timpson". Director magazine. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  8. "History of Timpsons". Timpsons. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  9. Jody Clarke (17 April 2009). "John Timpson: cobbling together a fortune". MoneyWeek.
  10. "News - Tesco Photo Shops to be operated by Max Spielmann?". 5 February 2014.
  11. "Disposal of Dry Cleaning activities" (PDF). Johnson Service Group. 5 January 2017.
  12. "Primark UK stores closing 'until further notice'". BBC News. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  13. Osborne, Alistair (26 August 2013). "Timpson has key to giving ex-convicts second chance". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 April 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  14. Groom, Brian (25 April 2017). "Greggs the baker gives a taste of work to ex-prisoners". Financial Times. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  15. James, Erwin (20 July 2016). "Virgin Trains helps ex-offenders to put their lives back on track". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 April 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  16. "Employing prisoners and ex-offenders". gov.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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