10 minutes with...Jack Blades

Aug 14 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

EDWIN Lawrence this week chats to man who runs one of Ayr's most successful men's fashion stores. Jack Blades is manager of Slater Menswear, and has shown a canny eye for publicity, as well as man-management and fashion.

*Jack, how long have you been in the fashion business?

I started with Slater in 1989 at the flagship Glasgow branch in Howard Street. Back then, Glasgow, Manchester and Ayr were the only branches.

Now there are 23 others, and we also do ladies’ wear and kilt hire. I have been involved in some of the new openings in my time, and I think my enthusiasm has been rewarded with steady progression, and I’m delighted to manage my own branch, with a great team.

*But you had some interesting jobs before that?

I am – I hope – ‘a young 48-year-old’, but before Slater my first job was with my local Co-op, then I was in electrical retail, and I also sold advertising for my local newspaper.

*And I understand you were once a DJ?

I started collecting records in 1976, and by 1978 I had a mobile disco doing functions. I broke into nightclub work, and in 1981 I went to Rumours in Ayr’s Dalblair Road.

I moved on to doing an over-25s night on Thursdays at the Bobby Jones, and then to Bonkers showbar in Miller Road. I was compere for Ayr Scottish Eagles ice hockey club at The Centrum in 2002.

I have also worked with some big name acts: Edwin Starr, The Drifters, Bay City Rollers, The Searchers, The Dreamers, Acker Bilk, and Eddie Kidd.

* What's your favourite 80s records?

The music I played was very commercial dance party, but the music I liked was very much soul – a bit of Stevie Wonder and George Benson

*I believe you grew up in Saltcoats?

Yes, Saltcoats was jumping on a Saturday night back in the 70s and 80s.

The shows were at the harbour, and the caravan sites were full. But like other Scottish resorts, time has seen the town lose its appeal as a destination.

*You've had a few celebrities in the shop?

Yes, In Glasgow we’ve had Marti Pellow, Sir Alex Ferguson, Max Bygraves and Telly Savalas. Here in Ayr our customers include the MacDonald Brothers, Sydney Devine, Tiger Tim, Craig Brown, George Burley, Kris Boyd, Bobby Lennox, Peter McCloy, David Sneddon and Glen Michael.

*Slaters is a Scottish family business that has grown nationwide?

Yes, and it literally came out of the ashes. A fire put Ralph Slater out of business in 1973, and at the age of 55 he re-mortgaged his house to start again. Son Paul joined fresh-faced from school in 1976.

They had two small shops in Ayr’s Dalblair Arcade – Mark Tapley and Blairs, so knew the town, and decided to launch a Slater’s in the High Street in 1984.

More stores have followed, and from just selling men’s suits Slater’s has massively enlarged its product range.

*But most branches are in cities, so how can Ayr compete and survive?

It greatly saddens me to see the decline of Ayr as a retail centre. Places like Silverburn and Braehead are understandably popular, offering free parking, protection from the weather and a safe shopping environment.

Faced with that, Ayr has to get back to being an attractive destination for a day out. And it has to encourage independent retailers, as people can get fed up with ‘clone cities’ with the same shops and stock. If I had the power to do it, I would reduce rates and offer interest-free loans, and I would make parking free at the weekends for shoppers.

I would re-open the High Street to traffic, to give it a shot in the arm. Ayr could also benefit from having friendly and smart ‘town wardens’ giving advice, and keeping the streets clean and safe. But is the council willing and able to save Ayr?

That’s the big question.

*What was your first car, and what do you drive now, Jack?

My first car was a yellow Ford Capri 1.8s. My priorities have changed since then, with wife Liz and two young sons, Jordan and Cameron, so I have a family car, a Mercdes 180 Kompressor.

*Should men still wear a tie to work?

I know there has been a shift to ‘dress-down days’, especially on Fridays. But in my opinion a suit or sports jacket isn’t complete without a tie to complement the look.