The shop has not only benefited from Lichfield’s status as a pro-independent market town, but has also contributed to this fact.
The world of menswear has changed quite drastically since 1966, when at the age of 15, on the Monday after the World Cup final, Lichfield’s own Michael Mullarkey got tucked into the industry.
Michael tells the Echo that “when I started as a young lad, the average price of a man’s suit was 11 guineas. And everybody in 1966 had suits to measure,” most of them British-made.
Now, the 22-inch flared trouser has been replaced by skinny jeans, and ‘working’ from home means many don’t only not dress smart during office hours but often avoid wearing bottoms altogether – provided that the Zoom camera is pointed high enough.
Even the very act of shopping could hardly have altered more over this time, given the advent of online.
So it is all the more worthy to celebrate the success of Michael’s Menswear – which has not only benefited from Lichfield’s status as a proper, pro-independent market town, but has also contributed to this fact – and, now, to celebrate Michael’s upcoming retirement this August.
From now until then, all of the shop’s current stock will be offered at reduced – “Retirement Discount” – prices. And Michael assures us that “there’s plenty of choice”!
The proud Lichfeldian has actually ‘retired’ once before, after spending more than 40 years at Tayler’s, another well-respected shop in Lichfield, where he worked his way up to the position of partner. The plan then was to put his feet up, but Michael soon got “fed up” and “bored”.
As luck would have it, he stumbled across an empty unit in Lichfield Arcade, quickly tracked the landlord down and “that was it” – Michael’s Menswear cut the ribbon in August 2010.
Michael says that fashion goes “in and out” about every seven years – which is at least twice since his shop opened, and more than eight times over the span of his career as a whole! – and that he does occasionally “cringe” when he now sees jeans at a wedding or a funeral.
But he insists “there’s still a big market there” for smart, quality menswear, and that Lichfield is the perfect place for this, since both locals and those who travel in “respect the shops and their independence”.
And when customers do walk in, Michael and his loyal team – which now includes his daughter, Theresa, and his grandson, Jamie, as well as Marie, Sally and Les, and previously David, who retired last year – are able to prove the superiority of in-store over online buying.
“We have all the knowledge of all the brands and their quality.” Just the range of shirt sizes alone is too much for a punter to be expected to comprehend off the cuff. Today, there’s “body fit, skinny fit, tailored fit, slim fit, modern fit, corporate fit … and one manufacturer’s ‘modern’ fit is actually a ‘classic’ fit in another label”.
Altogether, “it’s the personal touch that people like, and we know they’re going out with the right garment. We’re happy, and they’re happy”.
To anyone else considering going into the menswear business, Michael advises: “Have a go. Don’t be afraid. There’s always a market there for menswear, and people want quality at a reasonable price.”
As for the next steps in his own journey, wife Mary could be heard laughing in the background after I asked if Michael’s proverbial feet were staying up this time around. Indeed, his life outside of the shop is fairly non-stop, too.
Michael has previously served as the Sheriff of Lichfield and as Chairman of the Lichfield Greenhill Bower, one of the oldest community events in the country, of which he is now President. He is also the current Vice-President of the Lichfield St Chad Rotary, a panel member of the We Love Lichfield fund and a trustee of Elaine’s Toy and Gift Appeal.
The list goes on. But while Michael jokes that when “one door closes, another door opens”, he does also admit that he is “winding down”, albeit “slowly”. Aside from the family already mentioned, Michael is no doubt also kept busy enough by his son, Andrew, and his granddaughter, Emily.
“Talks are ongoing” about what happens to the store after the retirement sale comes to an end this August. Michael says it will “hopefully continue as a menswear shop. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!”
Until then, Michael would love for you to nip into the shop, have a chat – I get the impression there is little he doesn’t know about Lichfield! – and, of course, buy yourself something smart. “Everything you can think of is here!” Certainly enough to cover you from top to toe.
We at the Lichfield Echo would very much like to wish Michael and family all the best in his well-deserved – and, indeed, well-rehearsed – retirement.
Michael’s Menswear is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm, at 14 Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH.