J. M. Millet and Sons
of Southampton, Bristol, Plymouth, government contractors, clothing retailer.(1920s)
N.B. The name is spelled with one "t" to distinguish it from the businesses run by other members of the Millet family.
1894 Business established[1] by a family of Polish refugees (in fact they were from Dombrova, Galicia) who settled near Southampton[2]
1922 "J. M. MILLET SONS (OF SOUTHAMPTON) The Only Firm supplying ARMY CLOTHING direct to the Public from H.M. Government. 8 VICTORIA STREET BRISTOL All Wool Witney Blankets, full size, 30/- pair. Our World-famous Officers' Boots, in Box Calf" [3]
1923 J. M. MILLET & SONS, Government Contractors. 201, Union Street, Plymouth.[4]
1924 "The various Departments (at the Plymouth store) offer the finest products of the respective industries with a guarantee! The Boot Department holds a huge variety of BOOTS, SHOES to suit ..."[5]
1931 "Opening of a New Shop in Shrewsbury by the well-known firm of J. M. MILLET & SONS (CONTRACTORS TO H.M. GOVERNMENT). {This Famous Firm is known all over the country for the Wonderful Value of its various merchandise."[6]
1968 "J. M. Millet and Sons which has over 20 stores including one at Banbury. The(ir) new director is Mr. John Robbins, who will be the youngest director in the group, which is based at Bristol." [7]
1969 Millets (of Bristol) Holdings Ltd was incorporated to acquire J. M. Millet and Sons Ltd, outfitters at Bristol, Gloucester, Bath.
1970 Merger proposed between the 2 main branches of the Millett family business - Millets of Bristol and R. and A. Millett (sic); the third major member of these similarly named businesses, Milletts Stores (1928) (sic) Ltd was the only public company. There were plans to inject the newly merged entity into the public company.[8] But late in the year the planned merger was called off[9]
1984 Name changed to Millets of Bristol Ltd
1986 Sears acquired Blacks Leisure Group and planned to put Millets together with Blacks[10]
1987 Name changed to Millets Leisure Ltd.
1990 Principal activity: retailing of leisure clothing and camping equipment. The company was a subsidiary of Sears plc[11]
By 1996 operated from 163 stores throughout Britain. Management buyout of Millets Leisure from Sears.
1996 March: Acquired by Millets of Northampton[12]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times Mar. 5, 1996
- ↑ The Times Aug. 11, 1970
- ↑ Clifton and Redland Free Press 19 January 1922
- ↑ Western Evening Herald 16 August 1923
- ↑ Western Evening Herald 23 October 1924
- ↑ Shrewsbury Chronicle 11 September 1931
- ↑ Banbury Guardian 18 January 1968
- ↑ The Times Aug. 11, 1970
- ↑ The Times Dec. 22, 1970
- ↑ The Times Aug. 13, 1986
- ↑ 1990 Annual report
- ↑ 1996 Annual report
- Companies house filings