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Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Stepek

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:04 pm
by Dave
<<Admin Edit: Worthy of its own thread, no? (split from Woolies in Administration) >>

I suppose you might think - Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Steppek you can't buy better guaranteed. (I'll plant a {sp*} on all them)

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:45 am
by Josef
Good old Jan Stepek, the Lanarkshire electricals king (and Hamilton Accies man).

I remember the adverts, but I don't recall ever seeing a Glenns, Hutchison or Robertson shop. Was it a regional consortium, with one retailer to each area?

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:50 am
by onyirtodd
Josef wrote:Good old Jan Stepek, the Lanarkshire electricals king (and Hamilton Accies man).

I remember the adverts, but I don't recall ever seeing a Glenns, Hutchison or Robertson shop. Was it a regional consortium, with one retailer to each area?



I don't think it was much more than an arrangement to share the cost of advertising. Each shop was individually branded and, I imagine, all shops shared a common pricing policy in as far as price fixing legislation would allow. Google suggests Elaine C Smith did the voice over for a commercial in 1998.

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:15 am
by skintobalinto
There is a Glens Shop on Victoria Road, it has been there for years

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:23 am
by Verbal Kint
onyirtodd wrote:
Josef wrote:Good old Jan Stepek, the Lanarkshire electricals king (and Hamilton Accies man).

I remember the adverts, but I don't recall ever seeing a Glenns, Hutchison or Robertson shop. Was it a regional consortium, with one retailer to each area?


There is still a Glens in Byres road as far as i am aware unless it went recently. Also there was a Robertson's in Dumbarton Road in Partick too but I think that may be gone now.

Funnily enough I have never seen a Stepek.

There is Stepek Travel to is this connected?

http://www.stepektravel.co.uk/

*Found my answers:

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/busines ... 4190456.jp

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:12 am
by onyirtodd
Verbal Kint wrote:
onyirtodd wrote:
Josef wrote:Good old Jan Stepek, the Lanarkshire electricals king (and Hamilton Accies man).

I remember the adverts, but I don't recall ever seeing a Glenns, Hutchison or Robertson shop. Was it a regional consortium, with one retailer to each area?


There is still a Glens in Byres road as far as i am aware unless it went recently. Also there was a Robertson's in Dumbarton Road in Partick too but I think that may be gone now.

Funnily enough I have never seen a Stepek.


I think Stepeks were mostly out in Lanarkshire -Motherwell, Hamilton, Bellshill although I've a notion there was one on Stonelaw Rd, Burnside.

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:22 pm
by robertpool
Josef wrote:Good old Jan Stepek, the Lanarkshire electricals king (and Hamilton Accies man).

I remember the adverts, but I don't recall ever seeing a Glenns, Hutchison or Robertson shop. Was it a regional consortium, with one retailer to each area?


They were small to medium sized independent businesses that operated separately but bought goods in bulk as a consortium to reduce costs. They were commonly known as 'The Group of 4'. Each had a number of shops in various locations and all had at least 1 shop in Glasgow. Stepeks had shops in Hamilton and surrounding areas and was headed by John Stepek. Glens were based in Port Glasgow and run by Jim Friel. Hutchiesons were Glasgow based and headed by Tom Hutchieson. Robertsons head office was in Paisley and owned by Conn Conohan. They traded successfully throughout the 80's and early 90's but each company had its own business strategy which eventually led to the group going their own way.

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:04 pm
by Josef
robertpool wrote:
Josef wrote:Good old Jan Stepek, the Lanarkshire electricals king (and Hamilton Accies man).

I remember the adverts, but I don't recall ever seeing a Glenns, Hutchison or Robertson shop. Was it a regional consortium, with one retailer to each area?


They were small to medium sized independent businesses that operated separately but bought goods in bulk as a consortium to reduce costs. They were commonly known as 'The Group of 4'. Each had a number of shops in various locations and all had at least 1 shop in Glasgow. Stepeks had shops in Hamilton and surrounding areas and was headed by John Stepek. Glens were based in Port Glasgow and run by Jim Friel. Hutchiesons were Glasgow based and headed by Tom Hutchieson. Robertsons head office was in Paisley and owned by Conn Conohan. They traded successfully throughout the 80's and early 90's but each company had its own business strategy which eventually led to the group going their own way.


That'll be a slightly-qualified 'yes' then. :D

Thanks, Robert.

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:03 am
by onyirtodd
Verbal Kint wrote:Wow - Enough feedback to almost warrant it's own thread. There is Stepek Travel to is this connected?

http://www.stepektravel.co.uk/

*Found my answers:

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/business/How-to-make-a-family.4190456.jp


I was told ages ago that it was Stepek's move into travel that encouraged the Munro guys (of Munro the Chemist) to start Barrhead Travel

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:38 am
by robertpool
Verbal Kint wrote:Wow - Enough feedback to almost warrant it's own thread. There is Stepek Travel to is this connected?

http://www.stepektravel.co.uk/



Image

Re: Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Stepek

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:24 pm
by Bingo Bango
I work with a guy whos wife went to school or uni with the SON OF STEPEK

crazy i know, but it's true!

Re: Woolies in Administration:

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:36 pm
by Ally Doll
Verbal Kint wrote:Also there was a Robertson's in Dumbarton Road in Partick too but I think that may be gone now.


It's a charity shop now, selling furniture. It's along from Boots.

Re: Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Stepek

PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:49 pm
by big jim
i worked for Robertson`s as a delivery driver :?
last i heard they had sold most of there shops
to Sony or the likes and still had a few stores in Edinburgh
up in till 2 yr back as they were bought over after they
entered voluntary administration :roll:

Re: Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Stepek

PostPosted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:40 am
by Dexter St. Clair
and a branch in Crow Road Jordanhill.

Re: Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Stepek

PostPosted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:15 am
by Verbal Kint