Smythson
{{Short description|British manufacturer of luxury goods}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Frank Smythson Limited
| logo = Smythson logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| type = Private
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1887}}
| founder = Frank John Smythson[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33191/page/5416 "Frank John Smythson, Deceased."] The London Gazette, 13 August 1926, Issue 33191, p.5416. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
| location = London, United Kingdom
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Jacques Bahbout (Chairman){{cite web | url=http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/changes-at-smythson-7399676?src=nl/mornReport/20140129 | title=New Role for Jacques Bahbout at Smythson | work=Women's Wear Daily | date=29 January 2014 | accessdate=29 January 2014 | author=Jones, Nina}}
Stefano Giacomelli (Deputy Chairman)
Luc Goidadin (Creative Director)
| industry = Luxury goods
| products = Stationery and accessories
| owner = Greenwill SA
| homepage = [http://www.smythson.com/ smythson.com]
}}
File:Smythson at The Royal Exchange - geograph.org.uk - 1761306.jpg]]
Frank Smythson Limited, commonly known as Smythson ({{IPAc-en|s|m|aɪ|θ|s|ə|n}}), is a British manufacturer and retailer of luxury stationery, leather goods, diaries, and fashion products based in London, England. The company's founder, Frank John Smythson, was born in 1847 at Holborn and was a son of Marcus Alfred Smythson, a professor of music.[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QWP4-ZW2?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=GSRR-WNQ "Frank J Smythson in household of Marcus A Smythson. Registration District: Holborn. p. 1. Piece: 218. Folio: 109.Reg No: RG12."] From England and Wales Census, 1891, database with images, FamilySearch. Retrieved 17 September 2021. He opened his first store on 29 September 1887 at 133 New Bond Street in London. Smythson's flagship store is located nearby at 131-132 New Bond Street.
Smythson's clients have included the current British royal family, Queen Victoria, many UK politicians and prime ministers, Sir Edmund Hillary, Madonna and Grace Kelly. In 1908, the company created the first 'Featherweight' diary,{{cite web| url = http://www.smythson.com/corporate-diaries| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110513082308/http://www.smythson.com/corporate-diaries| archive-date = 2011-05-13| title = Corporate Diaries}} enabling diaries to be carried about.p.181 Moss, Victoria The Archivists In Style October 2012 Most of the company's leather goods are now made in Italy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/design/smythson-130th-anniversary-new-bond-street/|title=House of card: Smythson unveils a new exhibition to mark 130 years of elegant accessories|last=Choudhry|first=Talib|date=2017-04-13|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-01-25|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}
Locations
In the United Kingdom, Smythson has London boutiques on Sloane Street, as well as concessions in Harrods, Selfridges and Heathrow Airport Terminals 4 and 5.
Smythson's other international location is at Le Bon Marché in Paris.
The Flagship Store in New Bond Street hosted a small archive collection dedicated to notable users of Smythson products throughout the brand's history.
However, the store closed its doors in April 2024, three months after it closed its boutique in Westbourne Grove.{{Cite web |last=Fish |first=Isabella |date=2024-03-30 |title=Smythson quits Bond Street to cut costs |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/smythson-quits-bond-street-to-cut-costs-zm9hf9sxf |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}
History
In the 1950s, the John Menzies Group acquired Smythson, which was also operating under the name 'Pendragon' at the time. In 1998, Smythson's then managing director Sarah Elton led a management buyout backed by a private investor. Since then, the business has grown and the company is now operating outlets in the UK, US and France, as well as online through their website. In 2004, Smythson recorded £12 million in sales revenues.
In early 2005, Smythson shareholders appointed Cavendish Corporate Finance Limited to advise on the disposal of their stake in the business. Besides maximising value for themselves, the shareholders wanted to find a buyer who would protect the heritage of the brand and offer the management team the opportunity to continue to grow.
Kelso Place Asset Management and King Street Partners, backed by a consortium of high-net-worth individuals, were identified as the preferred bidders. Sarah Elton commented that she was satisfied with the deal.
In mid-December 2009, the company was sold for £18 million to Greenwill SA.{{cite web|last=Jack |first=Ian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2010/mar/27/ian-jack-smythsons-samantha-cameron |title=An unauthorised history of Smythson's |work=The Guardian |date=27 March 2010 |accessdate=12 May 2010}} Jacques Bahbout became Chairman of Smythson. In 2021, Stefano Giacomelli was appointed Deputy Chairman.
Smythson has collaborated with artists and designers such as Holly Fulton (2010),{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Ella |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/100714-holly-fulton-for-smythson-collabora.aspx |title=Fulton for Smythson |work=Vogue |date=14 July 2010 |accessdate=8 October 2010 |archive-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611202654/http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/100714-holly-fulton-for-smythson-collabora.aspx |url-status=dead }} Jonathan Saunders (2011){{cite web|last1=Bergin|first1=Olivia|title=Jonathan Saunders for Smythson|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG8803946/Jonathan-Saunders-for-Smythson.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020080431/http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG8803946/Jonathan-Saunders-for-Smythson.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2014|website=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=12 October 2014}} and Quentin Jones (2014).{{cite web|last1=Ryder|first1=Bethan|title=British artist Quentin Jones designs for Smythson|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/womens-style/27780/british-artist-quentin-jones-designs-for-smythson.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319092631/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/womens-style/27780/british-artist-quentin-jones-designs-for-smythson.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 March 2014|website=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=12 October 2014}}{{Cite web |last=Verner |first=Amy |date=2016-02-04 |title=Eye spy: graphic artist Vahram Muratyan lends his famous frames to Smythson |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/vahram-muratyan-lends-his-famous-frames-to-smythson |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=wallpaper.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.smythson.com Official website]
{{British Royal Warrant holders}}