Richard Shops was a British retailer of women’s fashion founded in 1936 by John Sofio. It was modeled after the U.S. retailer Lerner Brothers. Richard Shops went bankrupt in 1941 but was acquired and expanded by Charles Clore. The company expanded from the 1960s to the 1990s, becoming a mainstay in British high streets and shopping centers with their youth-centric clothing at mid-level prices.
From the late 1980s, the company faced intense competition from other retail chains. Additionally, a contract with South African suppliers was canceled due to anti-apartheid campaigns. Despite these challenges, Richard Shops remained a popular retailer until its closure in 1999, which was part of a broader trend of consolidation and restructuring in the British retail industry.
Written by denisebrain
