IMG – International Menswear Group

Posted on 16. Apr, 2010 by admin in Latest News

Henry Bucks as a global retailer

Henry Bucks is a member of the globally influential International Menswear Group (IMG) founded in 1958 in Western Europe and whose intimate and intricate network now reaches across every corner of the fashion retailing world

The IMG is an exclusive club of like minded family retailers who share ideas, figures, problems, experiences and aspirations. As there is only one invited member from each country private information is freely shared throughout the year but more particularly at the annual conference hosted in turn by each member.

The IMG was the brainchild of a certain Mr J. B. W. A. Giesbers whose company Meddens in Holland was established in 1830 shortly after the defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of the Dutch monarchy, language and nationality. The membership over the years of course evolves as is the nature of family businesses and some of the earlier members have hung up their tape measures and moved on.

The first international IMG meeting convened in Amsterdam was attended by members from 12 countries. The group included Barry Reed from Austin Reed, London; Roger Fein from Fein-Kaller, Switzerland; Gaetano Savini from Brioni, Rome; Reijo Kuusinen from Helsinki, M Ballière from Paris; Thomas Dorfmüller from Düsseldorf; Bengt and Sven Cason from Malmö, Sweden and Messrs Nexøe-Larsen and Bruun from Brødrene Andersen, Copenhagen.

Of the founding fathers only Brioni remains. The new dynamic member from Holland is Oger; from Switzerland, Bon Genie-Grieder part of the Brunschwig Group and from England, Flannels represented by the ebullient Neil Prosser. Present membership includes the extraordinarily successful Harry Rosen from Canada, and Harry’s son Larry now presides over the group, and Mitchells Richards Marshs from Connecticut and Long Island USA (who have recently acquired San Franciscan landmark Wilkes Bashford) recognised as one recognised of America’s trail blazing intensely service and quality driven retailers.

From Spain, Santa Eulalia of Barcelona; from Greece, Carouzos who have several luxurious stores; Louis Copeland who has certainly been touched by the Blarney Stone, from Dublin and Thomas Rusche, our ever youthful academic member from SØR Germany whose interests extend far beyond his 50 or more retail stores.

Henry Bucks was invited by the then president Harry Rosen to attend the annual IMG conference in Germany in 1988 so they could present their credentials to the group. New members must be unanimously approved by all members and there is a certain check list of ‘sine qua non’ to pass, such as confidentiality, to converse and report in English (that was an easy one for Henry Bucks!) and a willingness to participate to the full.

All of this leads to lively, open and valuable exchange of ideas as well as enduring friendships with like minded personalities The representative for Henry Bucks, Tim Cecil, has been elected three times president and Henry Bucks have hosted the meetings twice during their membership. The first time in 1995, Tim and Rachel, brought the IMG down from Darwin through the Kimberley and Kakadu in small planes to Alice Springs, on the ‘Ghan to Adelaide and by plane to Melbourne for the conference. The second time in 2004 the group met on Orpheus Island for a couple of days, then to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation for the conference at an eco-resort in the rainforest before winding its way down to Sydney.

Harry Rosen, his son Larry, CEO of Rosens and host of the 2007 IMG conference, Jack Mitchell and his brother Bill

The social times are arguably more valuable than the conferences themselves and allow the members to relax and talk freely about their lives, families and businesses. As we have all invested our lives and families in the businesses, this strengthens the value of the conferences and ultimately the quality of service and expertise we extend towards our customers.

Tags: Carouzos Greece, Flannels UK, Harry Rosen Canada, henry bucks, Henry Bucks Australia, IMG, Internationa apparel retailers, International Menswear Group, international menswear retail group, Louis Copeland Ireland, Mitchells USA, Santa Eulalia Spain, Soer Germany