Garbeau
Garbeau - Made to Measure was a finalist in the Blueprint North East Universities Business Plan Competition in 2008 winning £5,000 for the presentation of its business plan. The business was started by Northumbria University student Jessica McLean who researched starting the business in her final year whilst studying Fashion Marketing. The idea for the business came after Jessica found a gap in the market for Made to Measure shirts – through talking to her partner professional rugby player Mike McCarthy who’s 6ft 5in height and body frame made it impossible for him to buy ‘off the peg’ shirts. Jessica soon realised that this was a problem shared by many men – not only professional sportsmen!
The business now in its second year has built up a client data base of over 300 customers and has gained recognition with its strong branding, quality of products and first class service through word of mouth. Garbeau provides shirts for professional sports clubs, individual customers and has recently moved into the wedding market providing shirts and ties for wedding parties. The business is unique in that rather than waiting for customers to come to them, Garbeau goes to the customers at work or home.
Every shirt is designed, fitted and made to each customer’s individual specifications and measurements. Once Garbeau has customer measurements they can re-order through the website www.garbeau.eu choosing from a range of designs and fabrics. New customers are encouraged to use the website to input their measurements and order on-line.
“My customers expect a first class product and service – once they become a customer they stay a customer and by listening to them I have developed additional products and services such as ties, cuff links and gift vouchers as well as personalising the shirts by putting embroidered messages inside the collar – which is particularly popular with the wedding market and the gift market for birthday’s and Father’s Day” said Jessica. “Being a winner in the Blueprint Competition gave me the confidence to go out and develop the business further and it has provided a platform for me to market the business – the experience has been unbelievable.”
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t. 0191 499 8560 |
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