The business was founded in 1904 by Samuel Slater originally as tailor`s shop in Glasgow. His sons joined the business and helped to grow the company. One of his son`s Ralph established the retail business in 1973 following a fire which nearly closed the company. The first store opened on Howard Street. Further stores opened in Ayr and Manchester in the 1980s with a rapid expansion in the 1990s resulting in a total of 23 stores.