So, here's Gordon's story of true hard graft, facing ups and downs head on and having a brave leap of faith into questioning and changing for the better an iconic industry steeped in tradition and history:
- How did this all begin - How did you find yourself in the highland wear industry in the first place? What’s your favourite part of it?
Gordon - My career in Highlandwear started in Easter Road Edinburgh as a Saturday Boy working in a busy kilt/formalwear hire department. I have always had an interest in Scottish History and intrigued by the way we are viewed by the rest of the world (and ourselves Scots). A full time position then came up and as I was enjoying meeting people and the hustle and bustle and challenges of a hire department. Not all of it was fun having to polish up to 100 pairs of shoes weekly during the busy months. A hire department teaches you many things: attention to detail (nobody likes it when some part of the outfit is not right). Outfits are hired for a special event and we always have to remember this. From there I went on to Manage Dormie Menswear a nationwide group offering Kilt/formalwear hire on a grand scale, after a year was made Area Manager and after a year and a half made General manager of all 56 stores. Sadly they were bought over by Moss Bros on Christmas Eve and I was made redundant.
My career up to this point gave me a good grounding in how a small family company operated to that of a large nationwide group. The highlight of both these jobs was increasing turnover dramatically and this was achieved by setting high standards, great staff knowledge of the industry and outstanding customer service.
Emma - I can certainly say, having seen it myself, that Gordon has an unparalleled way with people - every customer is so important and made to feel so, their ideas and needs are carefully listened to and met to the highest standard! It isn't just buying an outfit, it is, for most, a once in a life time experience.
- What was the inspiration and the catalyst behind taking the plunge and creating a business you were so passionate about you literally put your name on it?
Gordon - After managing one of the largest kilt companies in Edinburgh and seeing the way this business was being run and attention was, in my mind, wrongly focused in achieving greater margin with little/no thought to where goods were made or the quality of product. I didn't feel comfortable working this way, so after much soul searching I felt going on my own was the right thing to do. It was the biggest decision of my life, we had a young family and little money but my belief was in my ability to run a successful business with all my skills accumulated up to this point, and support from Louise my wife.
The shop was opened on a shoe string and business started to come in. I hand picked the best kiltmaker I had ever worked with, I took the orders and she gave up her job and worked with me and still does to this day! The main reason for setting up my own shop was to work with the best manufacturers/suppliers Scotland has to offer (and it has a lot) - to know exactly each supplier and build relationships that would see us work closer and become partners.
The business name Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers came about as I had gained a good reputation in the Industry over the years and wanted to use this to my advantage.
And the Kiltmaker because this is such a fundamental and important part of the business and if we couldn't make kilts to the highest standard we would not have succeeded as a business. I also realised that you are only as good as your last kilt and the business has been built on word of mouth and referrals.
Emma - I think the richness of the GNK business and, now, brand is in the story that created it - it is as authentic as it's products in every single way, there is real heart in every aspect of it even to it's very conception and roots!