http://www.drapersonline.com/RSS/drapersinterview.xml en-uk The man in charge of turning around home-shopping giant Shop Direct Group, whose portfolio of catalogues includes Littlewoods, is determined to make its own-brand product every bit as desirable as its branded offer. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/homeshopping/driv/2008/09/the_drapers_interview_david_inglis.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/homeshopping/driv/2008/09/the_drapers_interview_david_inglis.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Emily Seares 05 September 2008 11:28 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/DavidInglis_resized_70_tcm12-1837744.jpg The managing director of footwear supplier Jacobson Group has risen from market trader to the Rich List, but his traditional business values and a penchant for doing a deal have stuck with him, not to mention his love of a prank. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/footwear/driv/2008/09/the_drapers_interview_harvey_jacobson.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/footwear/driv/2008/09/the_drapers_interview_harvey_jacobson.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Laura Weir 01 September 2008 17:09 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/harvey-jacobson_resized_70_tcm12-1819844.jpg He set up his eponymous womenswear brand 13 years ago and has been involved in every aspect of the business, but with a fresh identity for spring 09 James Lakeland insists he has never been happier with its collection. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/womenswear/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_james_lakeland.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/womenswear/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_james_lakeland.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Melinda Oliver 27 August 2008 09:43 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/james-lakeland_resized_70_tcm12-1808703.jpg His banking colleagues thought he was crazy when he left to work for shirt retailer Thomas Pink, but as chief executive Jonathan Heilbron has steered the business into uncharted territories in terms of sales and growth. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/menswear/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_jonathan_heilbron.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/menswear/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_jonathan_heilbron.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lorna Hall 14 August 2008 14:38 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Jonathan-heilbron_resized_70_tcm12-1798817.jpg The founder of premium womenswear retailer Joseph has a passion for fashion that has inspired many a designer, and it still burns brightly in his reinvention of luxury leather goods label Connolly. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/womenswear/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_joseph_ettedgui.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/womenswear/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_joseph_ettedgui.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Ana Santi 09 August 2008 16:41 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/090808DRIVJosephEttedgui_resized_70_tcm12-1793450.jpg WDT’s chief executive was brought in with a remit to overhaul all aspects of the business, and has set himself the task of discovering the DNA of its Firetrap, Sonetti and Fullcircle brands. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/youngfashion/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_pan_philippou.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/youngfashion/driv/2008/08/the_drapers_interview_pan_philippou.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lorna Hall 02 August 2008 16:53 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/020808Pan-001537_resized_70_tcm12-1774695.jpg Convincing luxury labels to sell online was the hard part for Net-a-Porter’s founder, whose groundbreaking business has gone on to change the way women shop. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/multiples/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_natalie_massenet.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/multiples/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_natalie_massenet.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Jessica Price Brown 26 July 2008 11:53 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/260708DRIVNatalie-Massenet_resized_70_tcm12-1748058.jpg Mr Byrite may have been the butt of jokes in the 1990s, but out of its ashes grew Blue Inc, whose managing director is having the last laugh with growing sales and expansion plans. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/youngfashion/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_steven_cohen.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/youngfashion/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_steven_cohen.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Laura Weir 12 July 2008 15:07 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/120708stevencohen003_resized_70_tcm12-1737478.jpg The Daks menswear design director came of age while working in Milan, but his love of British designlies at the heart of everything he produces and is a major element in the brand’s recent revival. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/menswear/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_bruce_montgomery.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/menswear/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_bruce_montgomery.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lauretta Roberts 19 July 2008 12:43 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/190708Bruce-006203_resized_70_tcm12-1737183.jpg Retailer, etailer, art dealer, manufacturer – the boss of Matches is a busy man, but he finds time to describe how he built an internationally renowned business. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/independents/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_tom_chapman.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/independents/driv/2008/07/the_drapers_interview_tom_chapman.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lauretta Roberts 05 July 2008 17:34 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/050708-DRIV_resized_70_tcm12-1701479.jpg Pentland Brands has handed Daniel Morris, managing director of its streetwear brand Boxfresh, the task of taking the label global. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/youngfashion/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_daniel_morris.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/youngfashion/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_daniel_morris.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Laura Weir 28 June 2008 12:09 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/280608-DRIV_resized_70_tcm12-1676212.jpg After a three-year break from accessories chain Claire’s, Melanie Berry couldn’t resist returning to head up the newly created UK-based European buying team Words  Ana Santi Photography Belinda Lawley. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/womenswear/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_melanie_berry.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/womenswear/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_melanie_berry.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F 21 June 2008 11:53 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/DRIV_resized_70_tcm12-1620880.jpg Family-owned department stores in the UK’s regions are disappearing fast as they are swallowed up by larger private groups such as Fenwick or they cash in on freeholds by selling to developers. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/departmentstores/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_anne_horton.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/departmentstores/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_anne_horton.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lorna Hall 14 June 2008 12:25 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Anne%20Horton_resized_70_tcm12-1597223.jpg Ethical etailer Adili knows it can’t change the world, but its director Sim Scavazza says that by giving shoppers the choice of being ethical the business can instigate a revolution in fashion. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/homeshopping/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_sim_scavazza.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/homeshopping/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_sim_scavazza.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Emily Seares 07 June 2008 10:06 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Sim%20Scavazza3_resized_70_tcm12-1530469.jpg Despite not having a lunch break in two years, Aquascutum’s chief executive has summonedup the energy to rouse a sleeping giant and rally to the cause of women in retail. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/multiples/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_kim_winser.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/multiples/driv/2008/06/the_drapers_interview_kim_winser.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lauretta Roberts 01 June 2008 11:29 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Kim%20Winser_resized_70_tcm12-1477169.jpg After 14 years working for Mohamed Al Fayed at Harrods, Nigel Blow was headhunted by Irish department store business Brown Thomas to lead it through its next stage of development. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/international/driv/2008/05/the_drapers_interview_nigel_blow.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/international/driv/2008/05/the_drapers_interview_nigel_blow.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lorna Hall 24 May 2008 11:03 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Nigel%20Blow_resized_70_tcm12-1432949.jpg In the late 1980s, Peter Tainton took over River Island’s footwear offer from its concession partner. In doing so, the Drapers Footwear Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner helped revolutionise the UK footwear sector. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/footwear/driv/2008/05/the_drapers_interview_peter_tainton.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/footwear/driv/2008/05/the_drapers_interview_peter_tainton.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Jessica Price Brown 10 May 2008 09:47 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Peter%20T%20driv_resized_70_tcm12-1329605.jpg The first lady of the UK’s department stores has worked at all of London’s top retailers and is now buying and merchandise director at Selfridges. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/departmentstores/driv/2008/05/the_drapers_interview_anne_pitcher.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/departmentstores/driv/2008/05/the_drapers_interview_anne_pitcher.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Lorna Hall 03 May 2008 09:42 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Anne%20pticher_resized_70_tcm12-1325552.jpg Peacocks' managing director Tim Bettley has led a transformation of the value chain from a "big knickers shop" to a genuine trend-led competitor. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/multiples/driv/2008/04/the_drapers_interview_tim_bettley.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/multiples/driv/2008/04/the_drapers_interview_tim_bettley.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Ana Santi 18 April 2008 17:29 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/Tim%202_resized_70_tcm12-1326495.jpg After adding another string to his bow with a gaggle of franchise stores, the future looks bright for Sam Morrison, owner of Northern Ireland-based indie Clockwork Orange. http://www.drapersonline.com:80/independents/driv/2008/04/the_drapers_interview_sam_morrison.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F http://www.drapersonline.com:80/independents/driv/2008/04/the_drapers_interview_sam_morrison.html;jsessionid=B4B1E575C857E369EDAD271BCE75D56F Marino Donati 10 April 2008 17:56 http://www.drapersonline.com:80/images/sam%20morrison_resized_70_tcm12-1108156.jpg