Ex-fashion retail boss on trend with honorary award
A proud Bradfordian and University alumnus, John Hinchcliffe, the former boss of Bradford-based fashion retailer Freemans Grattan Holdings has praised the University of Bradford for “supercharging” his life after receiving an honorary award.
John was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his ‘unstinting commitment to the University, business and the Bradford district’.
Who is John Hinchcliffe?
Keighley-born John’s career has spanned home shopping retail, working for companies selling ladieswear and homewares from the days of catalogues through to the introduction of online shopping.
As CEO of Freemans Grattan Holdings, he achieved strong growth, increasing revenues from £160 million to £260m following years of decline.
As Marketing Director of JD Williams, John helped turn the fashion retailer into one of the UK’s most successful FTSE 250 companies, overseeing a revenue growth from £410m to £750m, and increasing profit from £40m to nearly £100m.
When asked to list the reasons for his success in changing the trajectory of businesses he has led or helped to lead, John cites a fascination with customer behaviour and how to influence shoppers.
Ahead of the curve, and knowing he needed to stay relevant, John recalls how the move from postal orders, to telephone, to online retail felt gradual at the time, but in fact was a huge shift. This change contributed to the £10 billion worth of orders John has seen in his 38-year career.
John Hinchcliffe has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford in recognition of his ‘unstinting commitment to the University, business and the Bradford district’. Images credit: Kiran Mehta@KM Images/University of Bradford
University links
Linked with the University of Bradford since 1985 when he started a part-time BA (Hons) in Social Studies, graduating five years later, followed by an MBA in Business Studies in 1994, John says the University taught him to think critically and creatively.
John’s relationship with the University didn’t end when he graduated. He has been involved with the University for more than 40 years. His roles have included returning as a guest speaker for the School of Management’s MSc module in Managing and Leading Change, member of the University’s governing body (University Council), Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of Council.
As well as thanking the University for the honour which he received on Thursday 16 July, John, a Trustee of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, gave a heartfelt thanks to his wife and family during his acceptance speech, and received his award humbly, claiming that his aim has always been to be ‘the most successful bloke no-one has ever heard of’.
John’s advice to this year’s graduates is to enjoy themselves, be themselves and not someone else, and finally to “make it your mission to be the best version of you that you possibly can.”