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Not-addicted Interview

This Month We interview Ian the owner of www.not-addicted.co.uk

So, "Not-Addicted". What's the name all about. What inspired it?

Believe it or not the name was one of the hardest things, it wasn’t simply ‘yeah I want my store to be called this or that’ as with it being online I had to make sure the domain name was available. I sat one night and went through my I pod and ‘not addicted’ by the streets stuck in my head (maybe not everyone's favourite band or frontman and by no means my favourite), I thought it was a name that would stick in peoples mind and I know there's a lot of lads out there who I am sure have to constantly tell themselves they're ‘not addicted’ to by clobber or to anything else for that matter!!!!!!!

How long has the shop been trading?

I only started October 2006 so that’s 2 years under my belt now but im still a very new store compared to most.

What is your background? Did you work in clothing retail before opening the shop?

Im actually a quantity surveyor but that’s boring as!!!! Ive always loved clothes, football and music and worked in jd sports and lapel in younger days and always enjoyed the crack of selling clothes. My heart aint really in anything else so I thought id give it a proper go!!!!!!!

Most people only know the website. Is there an actual shop or is it all done online?

Its all done online at the minute and that is my plan but never say never as I am certainly not ruling an actual shop out.

Which brands do you find the most popular in terms of the volume you sell?

Good sellers for me are Tacchini, Fjallraven and Fila Vintage but it’s a funny old game really, you can have phases of selling a brand well then it could go quiet for a bit then pick up again. It’s a merry go round!!!!

For those not familiar with your store what brands exactly do you stock??

Here is my current full brand portfolio -

6876
80s casuals
Bailo
Baracuta
Barbour
Duffer
Edwin Jeans
Farah
Fila Vintage
Fjallraven
Gabicci
Garbstore
K Way
Kickers
Luke 1977
Lyle & Scott Scarves
Meohisto
Northern Couture
Nudie Jeans
One True Saxon
Penfield
Sergio Tacchini
Sperry
Spring Court
Tootal Scarves

What are your personal favourite brands old and new?

As you can probably guess ive always been into the casual fashions but sometimes twisted it with a bit of a rock and roll look as im also a big music fan (the madchester scene followed by oasis that sort of thing and a im a big beautiful south man). Obviously adidas footwear has played a massive part in my life and I have a decent collection but now I'm wearing shoes a lot more, I seem to live in Sperry Topsiders at the minute, they’re awesome!!!! At present I like Fjallraven clobber for the price I personally think its hard to beat, I only wear Nudie jeans with Straight Svens being my preferred fit. Theres quite a few brands im into at the minute Garbstore stuff is bang on, Farah vintage have got things good now the quality of their knits and shirts is second to none and Kenneth Mckenzie keeps knocking great pieces out at 6876 but I wear quite a mix of things these days sometimes dead safe and easy other times something completely different where people will think ‘what the f**k??’. My all time favourite label is probably Ralph Lauren Polo, its timeless you could wear the shirt you wore 15 years ago and it would still look current.

What label do you think could be the next big thing?

Lyle and Scott have had the top spot regards sales for retailers over the last couple of years but I'm sure that bubble will burst anytime, its everywhere now and the trendy lads who were wearing it 3-4 years ago want something different. I reckon Gabicci could take the crown, very similar to L&S and I think perfect for the ‘move on’. I know a lot of my brands definitely wont be the next big thing as that’s not what I'm about, I like to offer something a bit different to lads but obviously I need some commercial brands in there as my ‘bread and butter’.

And beyond the next few months, are there any long term plans for not addicted?

Keep at it and hopefully cut it as the most recognised online Casual Clothing retailer. Who knows one day you may see not addicted in a town or city near you. But above all try an offer an excellent service to all lads out there that want to spend their hard earned cash and look smarter than the next man!!!!!!