Kendall & Sons
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion, Retail |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Founder | William Wheeler Kendall |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Fate | Taken over by Combined English Stores in 1977; later acquired by Hepworths; rebranded as Next in 1984 |
| Headquarters | Leicester , United Kingdom |
| Products | Umbrellas, rainwear, women's apparel |
Kendall & Sons was a manufacturer and retailer specializing in umbrellas, rainwear, and women's apparel, established in 1870. The business was taken over by Combined English Stores in 1977, subsequently acquired by Hepworths—a menswear company based in Leeds—and ultimately evolved into the Next brand focused on ladieswear.
History
The company was launched by William Wheeler Kendall in 1870, initially selling umbrellas from a barber shop located in Leicester. Their products incorporated frames produced by Fox. By the 1960s, Kendall & Sons had expanded to more than 100 outlets and distributed umbrellas internationally. They were also suppliers of bespoke umbrellas to the British Royal Family and contributed five umbrellas to the successful 1952 Everest expedition.
In 1932, Kendall & Sons relocated to a custom-designed factory at 128 Charles Street, Leicester, which was built with an emphasis on operational efficiency and worker well-being. The firm introduced innovative employee benefits such as complimentary tea breaks, an on-site canteen, and flexible extended lunch periods tailored to staff preferences. Additionally, regular social outings for employees were organized.
Over the course of the twentieth century, Kendall diversified beyond umbrellas into rainwear and women's clothing. During the Second World War, they utilized their silk expertise gained from umbrella production to manufacture army macintoshes and parachutes.
Kendall's promotional strategy highlighted superior quality, featuring advertisements in prestigious publications like Vogue and engaging model Twiggy for campaigns during the 1960s. The brand also secured high-visibility placements such as exclusive front-page ads in The Daily Mail, often timed around St Swithin's Day to boost umbrella sales.
Remaining under family ownership until 1977, Kendall & Sons was then sold to Combined English Stores before being acquired by Hepworth and Sons in 1981. By 1984, Hepworths had rebranded all Kendall outlets under the Next banner.
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