Bernard Lewis (entrepreneur)
Bernard Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 February 1926 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Jewish Free School |
| Alma mater | Northern Polytechnic Institute |
| Occupation(s) | Founder and owner, River Island |
| Spouse | Vanessa Bracey (third wife) |
| Children | 5 |
Bernard Lewis (born 10 February 1926) is an English businessman, who is the founder and owner of the River Island fashion brand and clothing chain.
Early life
[edit]He was born on 10 February 1926, and educated at the Jewish Free School, and Northern Polytechnic Institute. He assisted his parents in ’ greengrocer as a child and acquired valuable skills such as learning how to price stock, understand customers' preferences and reduce waste.[1] He served in the RAF from 1944 to 1945.[2]
Career
[edit]Lewis opened his first fruit and vegetable shop in the North London area (on Holloway Road) at the age of 20 [3] and began selling clothing, primarily blouses and skirts, then dresses, in the 1940s.[1] His first clothes shop was in Mare Street, Hackney.[2]
During the 1970s, he launched a chain of clothing stores, later called Chelsea Girl.[4]
Lewis also founded Lewis Separates.[2]
He founded the Lewis Trust Group with his elder brother David and younger brother Geoffrey, but the latter two left in 1977.[2]
Lewis is estimated to be worth £1,030m (€1,484m).[5] In 2015, he was at position 83 on the Sunday Times Rich List.[6]
River Island is now run by his nephew, Ben Lewis.[7]
Personal life
[edit]His "right-hand man in the 1970s" was Leonard, his elder son from his first marriage.[2] In 1968, he married Jennifer Oldham, née Johnston, who modeled and acted under the name Jenny Meredith.[8] She died in 1975.
In 1981, he married Vanessa Bracey, a buyer for Chelsea Girl since 1970, and with whom he had been in a relationship since 1972. They have two sons, Sam and Jacob.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b McGregor, Kirsty (4 January 2018). "The family history of River Island: Bernard Lewis and Ben Lewis". Drapersonline.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Musgrave, Eric (2 November 2015). "From the archive: The Drapers Interview with River Island founder Bernard Lewis | The Drapers Interview | Drapers". Drapersonline.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Times Online Special Report". The Times. London. 26 February 2006. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ Robinson, James (19 August 2007). "Rags mean riches for the River Island family". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- ^ European Jewish Press: "Jewish businessmen prominent in British 'Rich List'" Archived April 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine April 24, 2006
- ^ "Sunday Times Rich List". Sunday Times. No. 24. 18 May 2014.
- ^ Hall, James (20 March 2011). "Ben Lewis interview: River Island chief on reviving 80s-style Chelsea Girl". Telegraph. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ . General Records Office. p. 5c 1417.
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