House of Fraser | The Origins Of A British Department Store

The House of Fraser was originally founded in 1849 by two brothers, Arthur and Fraser. The store expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution and became a household name across Britain. However, the store’s reputation began to decline when it merged with Debenhams in 1982.

What is House of Fraser?

House of Fraser is one of the oldest and most famous department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1849 by John Fraser and began as a small drapery shop in Glasgow. Over the years, House of Fraser has grown into one of the country's leading fashion and luxury retailers.

Today, House of Fraser operates over 200 stores across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and The Maldives. The company employs more than 4,000 people and continues to bring its customers high-quality clothing and accessories at affordable prices.

House of Fraser is known for its iconic Scottish flag motif on many of its products. The store also offers a wide variety of services such as free personal shopping, home delivery, and a loyalty program that rewards customers for spending money in the store.

house-of-fraser-banner

House of Fraser History

House of Fraser was founded in 1829 by George Fraser in the heart of London's Soho district. Over the next century and a half, the store grew to become one of the largest and most well-known British department stores.

The roots of House of Fraser can be traced back to 1829 when George Fraser opened his shop on Shaftesbury Avenue in London's Soho district. The store quickly became popular for its high-quality clothes and Imitation Indian silks imported from India.

Over the next century and a half, House of Fraser continued to grow and prosper. In 1946, George Fraser passed away, but his son Ronald continued to run the business with support from various members of the family. By 1976, House of Fraser had outgrown its original location on Shaftesbury Avenue and moved into a larger building on Oxford Street.

In 1996, House of Fraser merged with Selfridges Group Ltd., resulting in one of the largest department store conglomerates in Britain. However, following disappointing financial results in 2007, Selfridges Group was sold off to Dubai-based Al Tayer Group in 2011. This marked the end of an 86-year association between House of Fraser and Selfridges Group Ltd., which is now known as Marks & Spencer Group plc.

Today, House of Fraser operates nine stores across England and Scotland as well as two stores overseas in Hong Kong and Canada. The company continues to thrive thanks to its commitment to quality clothes

Why House of Fraser?

When House of Fraser first opened its doors, it was one of the most controversial department stores in Britain. It was known for its high prices and luxury goods, which made it a very different proposition from other mainstream retailers.

However, over the years the store has become more popular, and now attracts a wide range of customers. What explains this turnaround?

Firstly, House of Fraser has always been committed to offering a unique shopping experience. Its high level of service is legendary, and its staff are always willing to help customers find what they're looking for.

Additionally, the store has consistently invested in its product range. It's never afraid to introduce new brands and categories, which makes it an exciting place to shop.

Finally, House of Fraser is well-known for its outstanding value for money. Its prices are often lower than those at rival stores, making it a great option if you're on a budget.

house-of-fraser-1

What Services Did House of Fraser Have?

House of Fraser was founded in 1847 by John Fraser and began as a small drapery shop in Glasgow. In its early years, the store focused on selling imported luxury goods to wealthy Scotsmen, but it soon began to offer an entirely new type of shopping experience for British consumers.

The store’s first location outside of Glasgow was in Newcastle upon Tyne, where it quickly became one of the busiest department stores in northern England. In 1870, House of Fraser moved its operations to London, and it quickly became one of the most popular shopping destinations in the United Kingdom.

Over the years, House of Fraser has expanded its inventory to include a wide range of fashion items, furniture, home decor, and jewelry. Today, the store is still owned and operated by the descendants of John Fraser.

Environmental Awareness

House of Fraser is one of the oldest and most popular department stores in the United Kingdom. Started as a small shop in 1849, House of Fraser has since become one of the country’s largest retailers. The store’s origins date back to 1849, when John Fraser opened a small shop on London’s Oxford Street.

John was born in 1792 in Arbroath, Scotland. After working as a clerk in a number of different businesses, he decided to open his own shop on Oxford Street. The store quickly became popular, and by 1865 it had expanded to include five locations across London.

In 1928, House of Fraser merged with two other high-end stores—Burlington and Ritz—to form what is now known as House of Fraser Group plc. The company grew rapidly throughout the 1930s and 1940s, opening new stores across England and Wales.

In 1963, House of Fraser Group plc merged with British Home Stores to form Marks & Spencer Group PLC. The merger created one of the world’s largest retail chains; at its peak, Marks & Spencer operated more than 1,500 stores across the UK and Ireland.

However, during the 1990s and 2000s, several factors led to declining sales at Marks & Spencer Group PLC. In 2001, the group was sold to Dutch retailer Ahold for £10 billion (approximately $14 billion). A year later, Ahold announced plans

Conclusion

House of Fraser is one of the most iconic British department stores, with locations all over the world. It was founded in 1854 by George Smith and James Lockhart, two merchants who saw a need for a more convenient outlet for their customers in central London. From its humble beginnings as a small shop on Oxford Street, House of Fraser has grown into one of the UK's most popular shopping destinations.

Whether you're looking to buy something specific or just window-shop, House of Fraser is sure to have everything you're looking for. So if you're ever in the mood for some retail therapy, be sure to check out one of their flagship stores!

Read Previous

SSENSE | The Ultimate Online Destination For Luxury Fashion

Read Next

Merrell | The American Manufacture For Innovative Footwear

Most Popular