Fat Face
Encyclopedia
Fat Face is a chain of clothing retailers selling its own branded products. The company has over 190 stores in the United Kingdom
, with international stores in Singapore
, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates
, Ireland
, France
, Kuwait
, Oman
and Qatar
. The chain sells clothes aimed at men, women and children interested in active lifestyles. The company motto is "Life Is Out There". While originally marketed as active outdoor clothing, it is also increasingly a fashion
brand.
The company was founded in 1988 by Jules Leaver and Tim Slade, opening a store in Méribel
, a ski resort in the French Alps
. Leaver and Slade were skiers, but had run out of money. The idea for the clothing range was originally Slades. They sold belongings, including a Volkswagen
camper van, and purchased plain t-shirts with the proceeds on which to print logos. The idea of "better a bad day on the water than a good day in the office" came from this, and with growing interest and rapport with British tourists, they decided to do business in the UK. Between 1992 and 1993, the Fulham
store was opened. The name 'Fat Face' was inspired by Le Face, an Olympic
black run in Val d'Isère
. When the company's 3 level flagship store opened in Exeter
's Princesshay
quarter, on 25 September 2007, turnover exceeded £110 million.
Although growth was initially slow, operations grew over time and the company now owns over 150 stores
worldwide. The original Fulham
store closed in 2006.
In 2007, Fat Face trialled selling its clothing in John Lewis
department stores. This was successful and has since been expanded. A number of licensed products made by external companies have been introduced, such as watches and sunglasses
.
As of January 2010, the current chairman is Alan Giles
.
, the Night Sail in Plymouth
, the Night Jump at Thorpe Lakes, the Night Air in Gloucester
and the Night Windsurf at Hayling Island
.
...
, who also own New Look
retail stores in the UK, for £100m in 2005. Although Leaver and Slade are stakeholders, they no longer hold majority shares in the company.
Bridgepoint Capital
, a European Investor, reportedly bought Advent in March 2007 for £360m. Bridgepoint promised Fat Face employees and customers that the Fat Face brand will not change but expand, opening more shops worldwide.
Fat Face clothing is known for providing slightly generous sizing compared to other high street stores.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, with international stores in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
and Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. The chain sells clothes aimed at men, women and children interested in active lifestyles. The company motto is "Life Is Out There". While originally marketed as active outdoor clothing, it is also increasingly a fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
brand.
History
Méribel
Méribel is a ski resort in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alps, situated near the town of Moutiers.Méribel refers to three neighbouring villages in the Les Allues commune of the Savoie département of France, near the town of Moûtiers , called Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret and Méribel Village...
, a ski resort in the French Alps
French Alps
The French Alps are those portions of the Alps mountain range which stand within France, located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions....
. Leaver and Slade were skiers, but had run out of money. The idea for the clothing range was originally Slades. They sold belongings, including a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
camper van, and purchased plain t-shirts with the proceeds on which to print logos. The idea of "better a bad day on the water than a good day in the office" came from this, and with growing interest and rapport with British tourists, they decided to do business in the UK. Between 1992 and 1993, the Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
store was opened. The name 'Fat Face' was inspired by Le Face, an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
black run in Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère is a commune of the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department in south-eastern France. It lies from the border with Italy. It is on the border of the Vanoise National Park created in 1963. The Face de Bellevarde was the scene of the men's downhill race as part of the 1992 Winter...
. When the company's 3 level flagship store opened in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
's Princesshay
Princesshay
Princesshay is a shopping mall in the city of Exeter, Devon, England. It was built in the early 1950s to replace buildings that had been destroyed in the World War II Baedeker Blitz...
quarter, on 25 September 2007, turnover exceeded £110 million.
Although growth was initially slow, operations grew over time and the company now owns over 150 stores
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
worldwide. The original Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
store closed in 2006.
In 2007, Fat Face trialled selling its clothing in John Lewis
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
department stores. This was successful and has since been expanded. A number of licensed products made by external companies have been introduced, such as watches and sunglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that...
.
As of January 2010, the current chairman is Alan Giles
Alan Giles
Alan Giles is Chairman of Fat Face, the active lifestyle retailer.He was chief executive officer of HMV Group, owner of record shop HMV, which he joined in 1998, from March 1999 until September 2006....
.
Events
The 'Night Series' sporting events are a series of 7 events held by Fat Face across the United Kingdom. These include the Night Surf in NewquayNewquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
, the Night Sail in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, the Night Jump at Thorpe Lakes, the Night Air in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and the Night Windsurf at Hayling Island
Hayling Island
-Leisure activities:Although largely residential, Hayling is also a holiday, windsurfing and sailing centre, the site where windsurfing was invented....
.
...
Acquisitions and investments
Fat Face was bought by Advent InternationalAdvent International
Advent International is a global private equity firm focused on buyouts of middle market growth companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia...
, who also own New Look
New Look (store)
New Look is a British global fashion retailer with a chain of high street shops in Britain, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Malta, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.-History:...
retail stores in the UK, for £100m in 2005. Although Leaver and Slade are stakeholders, they no longer hold majority shares in the company.
Bridgepoint Capital
Bridgepoint Capital
Bridgepoint is a UK-based private equity investor in companies valued up to €1 billion, including Pets at Home and Pret A Manger in the UK, Dorna in Spain, and Alain Afflelou in France.-History:...
, a European Investor, reportedly bought Advent in March 2007 for £360m. Bridgepoint promised Fat Face employees and customers that the Fat Face brand will not change but expand, opening more shops worldwide.
Fat Face clothing is known for providing slightly generous sizing compared to other high street stores.