Reluctant retreat from Alexanders

After 38 years, Des Bowater has decided to bow out of his Alexanders Menswear business to battle terminal illness.

He said he had seen plenty of change since he took up menswear in Hastings in 1973, starting across the road at Blackmore's.

"Thirty years ago we were flat stick on a Friday night. At 7.30pm the fitting rooms would all be full and we would have four staff on until 8.30pm. Now at 5pm it's dead." Independent menswear stores had faded from the scene.

"If you go back 30 years there were 16 locally owned menswear stores in Hastings and now we are down to three.

"But if you count how many women's stores there are here and you'll get more than 16. But it's been a good life in the menswear. We are in top-end stuff and you meet some very nice people.

"But I have dressed guys for years that I have never seen, because their wives come in and take it home on approval."

There are few new ideas in the clothing business, said Mr Bowater, who once met French fashion designer Pierre Cardin. "Some of the styles are so old they are new again, but they always come back slightly different."

He said he was going to miss his business.

"It's only just my health that has done all this. I had half my lung taken out two years ago and we thought it was coming right then, bang, I've got it in my spine.

"I have my good days and my bad days but I will still pop in and see Darren. I wish I could work part time. I could sit in the window with a red suit and hat on."

New owner Darren Olsen has left the world of finance for the challenge of his own business.

He said it would be business as usual in the new year.

"The business has done pretty well over the last 32 years through excellent customer service, and that will be top of my list," he said.

Alexanders had another edge over the chain stores.

"A lot of chain stores send their winter clothes back in summer, whereas we hold on to our stock on the premises. A lot of people heading off overseas need something suitable."

Mr Bowater said he thought the future looked bright for the Hastings retail scene.

"The megastores bring people in, and we've got Farmers opening here. If you do it right, people will come from there to here. It's going to be great."