The shop sold all manner of products loosely described as drapery including outerwear, boiler suits, painter’s jackets through to underwear, and, in the flourishing town of South Shields the shop which became known as ‘Barbour’s,’ thrived successfully.  Almost from the first, Barbour derived an important part of its income from the ship-owners, ship builders and seamen of the port, supplying Beacon brand oilskin coats designed to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen, river, dock and shipyard workers from the worst of the weather.

 

By 1906, Barbour was a successful business and John Barbour made two of his sons, Jack and Malcolm equal partners in the business.  The younger brother Malcolm expanded the business to supply Beacon oilskin clothing to landowners, farmers, farm workers and shepherds.  He also produced the first Barbour catalogue in 1908, which as well as targeting seamen and farmers, focused on fishermen forming the core of its future business. By 1917, the mail order catalogue accounted for almost 75% of Barbour’s business including international orders from as far away as Chile, South Africa and Hong Kong.

 

In 1912 J. Barbour & Sons became J. Barbour & Sons Ltd with John Barbour as Chairman and Jack and Malcolm as joint Managing Directors.  John remained as Chairman until he died on July 7, 1918.

 

Today Barbour’s headquarters are still in Simonside, South Shields.  Although it sources products from around the globe, Barbour’s classic wax jackets are still manufactured by hand in the factory in Simonside and each year over 100,000 jackets are processed via the central, subsidiary and local customer service operations.

​

Source: smartsofyork.co.uk