Bonmarche
Encyclopedia
Bonmarché is a clothing retailer based in Wakefield
, West Yorkshire
, England
. The business was founded in 1982 and was acquired by the Peacock Group in 2002. The clothing retailer has over 380 stores nationwide, employs over 4,000 people and is the UK's largest budget fashion retailer selling womenswear in a wide range of sizes – especially plus size clothing
. Ranges include casual and formal separates, outerwear, swimwear, lingerie nightwear and accessories, all designed for larger women. In March 2011, it was reported that Peacocks
are looking to sell Bonmarche, and are currently looking for a buyer.
businessman arrived in the UK in 1950 from the Punjab and settled in Ely
, Cambridgeshire
, from where he launched his door-to-door sales of clothing items that were in demand after World War 2
.
The family bought two retail clothing firms in 1982 – Wiltex and Hartley – which had twenty six indoor market locations across the north of England. Mr Chima moved to Huddersfield
and ran the business with two of his sons Gurchait and Gurnaik.
The first Bonmarché store opened in Doncaster
in 1985 and this was the start of the chain that grew into more than 300 stores, a huge headquarters at Grange Moor and a turnover of more than £200m. Mr Chima retired and left two sons to run the business, before they sold to the Peacock Group in 2002.
, the designer famous for the co-design of Lady Diana Spencer's
wedding dress in 1981. This collection has a slightly higher price point than the main Bonmarché range but is still regarded as value for money.
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The business was founded in 1982 and was acquired by the Peacock Group in 2002. The clothing retailer has over 380 stores nationwide, employs over 4,000 people and is the UK's largest budget fashion retailer selling womenswear in a wide range of sizes – especially plus size clothing
Plus size clothing
Plus size clothing is a general term given to clothing proportioned specifically for overweight people. Also called Outsize in some countries , this term has been losing favour since the 1990s...
. Ranges include casual and formal separates, outerwear, swimwear, lingerie nightwear and accessories, all designed for larger women. In March 2011, it was reported that Peacocks
Peacocks
Peacocks may refer to:*Peacock, one of two species also known as peafowl*Peacocks *Nickname for English football club, Leeds United*A song from Tallahassee by The Mountain Goats...
are looking to sell Bonmarche, and are currently looking for a buyer.
History
Bonmarché was founded in 1982 by Parkash Singh Chima. The SikhSikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
businessman arrived in the UK in 1950 from the Punjab and settled in Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, from where he launched his door-to-door sales of clothing items that were in demand after World War 2
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The family bought two retail clothing firms in 1982 – Wiltex and Hartley – which had twenty six indoor market locations across the north of England. Mr Chima moved to Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
and ran the business with two of his sons Gurchait and Gurnaik.
The first Bonmarché store opened in Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
in 1985 and this was the start of the chain that grew into more than 300 stores, a huge headquarters at Grange Moor and a turnover of more than £200m. Mr Chima retired and left two sons to run the business, before they sold to the Peacock Group in 2002.
David Emanuel
In 2007, Bonmarché launched a collection designed in collaboration with David EmanuelDavid Emanuel (fashion designer)
David Emanuel is a Welsh fashion designer who is, perhaps, best known for having designed the wedding dress worn by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1981.-Early years:Born and brought up in Bridgend , David Emanuel excelled in music...
, the designer famous for the co-design of Lady Diana Spencer's
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
wedding dress in 1981. This collection has a slightly higher price point than the main Bonmarché range but is still regarded as value for money.