Stuttafords

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = Stuttafords | logo = | logo_caption = | logo_upright =  | logo_alt = | type = | industry = Department store | predecessor =  | founded = {{Start date and age|1858}} in Cape Town, South Africa | founder =  | defunct = {{End date|2017|08|01}} | fate = Liquidated | successor =  | hq_location_city = Johannesburg | hq_location_country = South Africa | area_served = South Africa, Botswana and Namibia | key_people = | products = | owner =  | num_employees = 950 (2017) | num_employees_year =  | parent = | website =  }}

[[File:Adderley Street, Cape Town, looking NE - ca. 1897.jpg|thumb|Adderley Street in {{Circa|1897}}, with Thorne, Stuttaford & Co. store, middle]] thumb|Stuttafords Cape Town 1957 [[File:Stuttafords Huisgenoot.jpg|thumb|1916 Stuttafords ad printed in Standard Dutch (before Afrikaans replaced it) in ''Die Huisgenoot'' magazine]] thumb|Stuttafords, West at Field streets, Durban, 1926 thumb|Stuttafords, Rissik at Pritchard streets, Johannesburg in 1957 thumb|How the Stuttafords Cape Town Adderley Street flagship store grew over time with additions '''Stuttaford's''' was a chain of upscale department stores in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia that operated for 159 years from 1858 through 2017. It was nicknamed the "Harrods of South Africa". At closing it had seven stores in South Africa, two in Botswana, and one in Namibia.<ref name=times>{{cite news |last1=Kumwenda-Mtambo |first1=Olivia |title=The end of Stuttafords: After 159 years, 'Harrods of South Africa' shuts shop |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-07-27-the-end-of-stuttafords-after-159-years-harrods-of-south-africa-shuts-shop/ |publisher=Sunday Times (South Africa) |date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> It continues to operate in Namibia only.<ref>[https://www.stuttafordsonline.com.na/category/news-announcements/ "News", Stuttafords Namibia official website]</ref>

==History== Founder Samson Rickard Stuttaford opened his first shop in 1857 in Cape Town city centre.<ref name=e4371ff/><ref name=times/> His son was Richard Stuttaford (b. 1870) was a prominent businessman and entered the firm in 1886. In 1859 Povall & Stuttaford was established. In 1868 the company Thorne, Stuttaford & Co. was established in collaboration with William Thorne.<ref name=e4371ff/>

Its main Cape Town store at the corner of Adderley and Hout streets, opened in 1938, was designed by in-house Harrods architect Louis David Blanc, echoing the style of the London department store's buildings.<ref name=times/>

In 1978, Graham Beck's Kangra Holdings bought Stuttafords, which at that point had five stores, for 12 million rand. On 24 August 1979 the company was delisted from the stock exchange. Beck stripped the assets, selling the transport and warehousing operations for 10 million rand.{{fact|date=August 2021}}

In 1983 he sold the Durban branch to Garlicks. In 1986 he sold Stuttaford's 45% share in Cavendish Square shopping centre. in 1987 he sold the Cape Town Adderley Street flagship store to Unidev for 11 million rand. The store closed 18 April 1987.<ref name=ech17>Marwood, ch. 17</ref>

In 1987, what remained of Stuttafords, which by then also included the remaining John Orr's and Garlicks store branches, was sold to Greatermans, another department store, which was part of Kirsh Trading, later Tradegro. The John Orr's and Garlicks branches were rebranded Stuttafords which then had 8 branches. Pepkor acquired Stuttafords in 1992 along with Ackermans, Checkers and Cashbuild. In 1998 Pepkor announced that it planned to sell Stuttafords and focus on its core business, serving low- to lower-middle-income consumers. In 2000, taking control in a deal worth 106 million rand were: the management (35%) and staff (15%) of Stuttafords, and African Merchant Bank Private Equity Partners (AMB PEP, 50%): AMB PEP would later sell to the store management.<ref name=ech19/>

In 2000 Stuttafords moved from a model of a complete traditional staid department store to that of a contemporary, specialty department store focusing on apparel, cosmetics and "soft" home goods such as bed and bath linens.<ref name=ech19>Marwood, ch. 19</ref>

In 2008, under CEO Marco Cicoria, the store pivoted again, aiming to be the country's leading retailer selling international upmarket brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ted Baker, Gap and Banana Republic. This proved to be fatal when in 2015 an economic crisis and reduction in the value of the rand versus the U.S. dollar (on top of a 45% import duty) made the upmarket products extremely expensive in the local currency. Attempts at a bailout failed and in July 2017 the chain closed,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=OLIVIA|first1=KUMWENDA-MTAMBO|last2=Strydom|first2=TJ|date=27 July 2017|title=The end of Stuttafords: After 159 years, 'Harrods of South Africa' shuts shop|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-07-27-the-end-of-stuttafords-after-159-years-harrods-of-south-africa-shuts-shop/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-22|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}</ref> except for the Windhoek, Namibia store which was sold off and remains in operation.<ref name=ech20>Marwood, ch. 20</ref> The company was wind up and unlisted on 1 August 2017.<ref name="ST">{{cite web |title=The end of Stuttafords: After 159 years, 'Harrods of South Africa' shuts shop |url=https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-07-27-the-end-of-stuttafords-after-159-years-harrods-of-south-africa-shuts-shop/ |website=Sunday Times |access-date=14 December 2025 |date=27 July 2017}}</ref>

==Cape Town flagship store== The store at Adderley and Hout streets was the largest and grandest, and formed the central shopping district together with other now-closed department stores such as Garlicks and Fletcher & Cartwright's. In 1957, 993 employees worked here both in the retail store operation and in the head office.<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3019</ref>

The flagship was a complete department store, as opposed to the smaller department stores focusing on apparel and soft home goods that it would operate starting around the turn of the 21st century. As of 1970, the flagship carried:<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3026 ff.</ref> * Women's and men's apparel and accessories * Cosmetics, childrenswear, Luggage * Home crafts: dress fabrics, paper patterns, sewings, notions, trimmings, buttons, wools, needlework * Home furnishings: carpets, furniture, bedding, some sports, fabrics, lamps, towels, napery, linens, blankets, dinnerware, ornaments, glassware, cutlery, ovenware, kitchenware, hardware, gardening, electrical, radios, gifts, candles * Sundries: curios, photography-related, stationery, books, records; * Gourmet food hall selling groceries, frozen goods, fish, cakes, sweets, and smokers' requisites

There were two restaurants: Adderley Restaurant and the self-serve Bird Cage restaurant. There were additional concession spaces.

==Branches== In 2006, Stuttafords had the most stores in its history, 22 in total. In 2009, to restructure to international standards, it closed smaller stores in Somerset West, Woodhill and Hyde Park.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stuttafords restructures to international standards |url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/162/38808.html |accessdate=July 5, 2020 |publisher=FMCG South Africa |date=12 August 2009}}</ref> Some other stores were downsized or closed before liquidation in 2017, as shown in the table.

Source: John Marwood, ''The History of Stuttafords Department Stores''<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3426</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Country/ Province/ Metro. area !Community !Shopping centre !Opened !Closed !Sq m upon closing in 2017, if applicable<ref name=sqftg/> |- | colspan=6 style="background:grey;color:white;" | '''SOUTH AFRICA''' |- | colspan=6 | '''Western Cape''' (formerly part of Cape Province) |-style="background:white;" | rowspan=7 style="background:white;"| '''CAPE TOWN''' M. M. | Cape Town CBD | Adderley Street | 1938 | {{dts|1987|4|18}}<ref name=e3198>Marwood, ebook location 3198</ref> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;background:white;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| * 1938 building at SW corner of Adderley and Hout, through to St Georges Mall. {{coord|-33.9227763|18.4214175}} Extended in phases to include most of the block south to Shortmarket. |-style="background:white;" | Century City | Canal Walk | | {{dts|2017|5}}<ref name=e3772/> |4,336 |-style="background:white;" |Claremont |Cavendish Square | {{dts|1972|9|7}}<ref>Marwood, ebook location 2715</ref><ref>[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1WH2xvcfw4/V2EL5KcKKLI/AAAAAAAAQQs/YuxYHZ12MAYTcr12L054abAA4CSxE24jQCLcB/s1600/StuttafordsCavendish1%2B-%2BCopy.jpg ''Stuttafords News'' (internal newspaper), Christmas 1972, p.1]</ref> | 2016<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3477</ref> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;background:white;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| *March 2013 "Stuttafords Emporium" launched here, 60% larger than the original store.<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3434</ref> |-style="background:white;" |Belville |Tygervalley Centre | 2014<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3441</ref> | | |-style="background:white;" |Somerset West | | 2009 | | |- | colspan=6 | '''GAUTENG''' (formerly part of Transvaal) <!--

JOHANNESBURG

--> |-style="background:white;" | rowspan=12 style="background:white;"| '''JOHANNESBURG''' M. M. | Johannesburg CBD | SE Corner of Rissik and Pritchard streets {{coord|-26.2033888|28.0418928}} | 1893/1897 | {{dts|1973|6|16}}<ref>Marwood, ebook location 2847</ref> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;background:white;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| *First branch 1893, rebuilt 1897. 10-story building in Pritchard Street erected 1903. Adjacent 6-story building erected in Rissik Street 1928/9.<ref>[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ylWXoBGLRU/XpXXYp2w8tI/AAAAAAAAVJc/MNgAD-WlTboz1Paj_qNJn5N9NqZEGAPbACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/1946%2Ba.jpg Advertisement for Stuttafords]</ref> Building semi-abandoned until 2016, now site of Stuttafords House flats.<ref>Marwood, ebook location 2933</ref> |-style="background:white;" | Sandton | Sandton City | August 1973 | | 6,299 |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| *4,645 m2 upon opening (2 sales levels of 1,858 m2 each and one service basement of 929 m2). 6,299 m2 upon closing in 2017.<ref name=sqftg>Marwood, ebook locations 3483</ref> |-style="background:white;" |Roodepoort |Clearwater Mall | | May 2017<ref name=e3772/> | 3,095 |-style="background:white;" | Rosebank | Oxford Corner<ref name=e2961/> | 1958<ref name=e4371ff/> | 1977<ref name=e2961/> | |-style="background:white;" | Rosebank | Rosebank Mall (1st store) | {{dts|1977|10|25}}<ref name=e2961>Marwood, ebook locations 2961–2991</ref> | 1983 | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;background:white;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| Replaced freestanding streetfront store at Oxford Corner.<ref name=e2961/> |-style="background:white;" | Rosebank | Rosebank Mall (2nd store) | {{dts|2014|7|31}}<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3443</ref> | {{dts|2017|5}}<ref name=e3772/> |2,409 |-style="background:white;" | Bedfordview | Eastgate Shopping Centre | | 2017<ref name=sqftg/> | 5,637 |-style="background:white;" |Hyde Park |Hyde Park Mall | | 2009 | |-style="background:white;" |Randburg - Cresta |Cresta Shopping Centre | | | <!--

PRETORIA AND TSHWANE

--> |- | rowspan=4 style="background:white;"| '''PRETORIA''' and Tshwane M. M. | style="background:white;"| Menlyn | style="background:white;"| Menlyn Park | style="background:white;"| | style="background:white;"| 2017<ref name=sqftg/> | style="background:white;"| 2,580 |-style="background:white;" |Brooklyn |Brooklyn Mall | | {{dts|2017|5}}<ref name=e3772/> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| "Boutique" store" |-style="background:white;" |Woodhill |Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Complex | | 2009 | <!--

DURBAN AND KWAZULU-NATAL

--> |- | Colspan=5 | '''KWAZULU-NATAL''' (formerly Natal) |-style="background:white;" | rowspan=6 style="background:white;"| '''DURBAN''' and eThekwini M. M. | Durban Central | NW corner West and Field streets (today Joe Slovo & Dr Pixley Kaseme)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJYeAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA93|title=Departments of State and Justice, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations: Department of State. Hearings Before the Subcommittee|year=1927}}</ref> {{coord|-29.8586860|31.0218430}} | 1926<ref name=e4371ff/> | 1983<ref name=e2961/> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;background:white;"| | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| 1983 became a Garlicks; as of July 2020, occupied on ground floor by Markham, Bradlows, and "Garlicks Chambers"<ref>Google Maps street view, July 2020</ref> |-style="background:white;" |uMhlanga |Gateway Theatre of Shopping | 2009 | 2017 | 3,795 |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;background:white;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| *Replaced Musgrave Centre |-style="background:white;" |La Lucia |La Lucia Mall | | | |-style="background:white;" |Westville |The Pavillion | | 2017<ref name=sqftg/> | 2,440 |-style="background:white;" |'''PIETERMARITZBURG''' | | | |1984<ref name=e4371ff>Marwood, ebook location 4371 ff.</ref> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;" | colspan=6 style="background:white;"| *Lease taken over by John Orr's<ref name=e4371ff/> |- | colspan="6" style="background:grey;color:white;" | '''BOTSWANA''' |-style="background:white;" | colspan =2 rowspan =2 style="background:white;"| '''GABORONE''' | Gamecity Lifestyle Shopping Mall<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nash |first1=Dallas |title=Garlick dead |url=http://www.botswanaguardian.co.bw/style/item/2702-garlick-dead.html |accessdate=5 July 2020 |publisher=Botswana Guardian |date=9 August 2017}}</ref> | | 2017 | |- | Airport Junction Shopping Centre | | 2017 | |- | colspan=6 style="background:grey;color:white;"| '''KENYA''' |-style="background:white;" | '''NAIROBI''' | Dagoretti | The Junction Mall | 2005<ref name=e4371ff/> | {{dts|2007|3}}<ref>Marwood, ebook location 3352</ref> | |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;" | colspan=5 style="background:white;"| *Originally about 30 employees, later fell to around 15 |- | colspan=6 style="background:grey;color:white;" | '''NAMIBIA''' |-style="background:white;" | colspan =2 |'''WINDHOEK''' | Maerua Mall | | (open) | --- |- class="expand-child" style="line-height:1em;" | colspan=6 style="background:white;"| *Sold in June 2017 to a 3rd party.<ref name=e3772>Marwood, ebook location 3772</ref> Still operating as of July 2020.<ref>[http://stuttafordsonline.com.na Stuttaford's Namibia website, accessed July 6, 2020]</ref> |}

==External links== *[https://www.amazon.com/History-Stuttafords-Department-Stores-Africa-ebook/dp/B01A8979Q0 John Marwood, ''The History of Stuttafords Department Stores of South Africa 1858 - 2017: Expansion, Takeovers, Makeovers, Collapse''] *[http://stuttafordsstory.blogspot.com "The Story of Stuttaford's" (blog)] ==Bibliography== * (Book) Stuttaford & Co. Ltd., Gill Fraser (ed.), ''The Story of Stuttafords'', Cape Press, 1957. 55 pp. * (E-book) Marlow, John (2016), [https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Stuttafords-Department-Stores-Africa-ebook/dp/B01A8979Q0 The History of Stuttafords Department Stores of South Africa 1858 - 2017: Expansion, Takeovers, Makeovers, Collapse], {{ASIN|B01A8979Q0}} ==References== * John Marwood, ''The History of Stuttafords Department Stores''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marwood |first1=John |title=The History of Stuttafords Department Stores |pages=as noted |url=https://www.amazon.com/History-Stuttafords-Department-Stores-Africa-ebook/dp/B01A8979Q0}}</ref> {{reflist}} Category:Department stores of South Africa Category:Retailing in Namibia Category:Retailing in Botswana Category:Retailing in Kenya