Exclusive Interview: Martin Gill from MOM Agency (our UK Distributor)
Q: Tell us a little about your business, the region you cover, brands you carry, etc.
A: MOM agency started three and a half years ago with a showroom in central London on Piccadilly and two collections, Oliver Spencer and an Eco inspired Jeans line called Howies. The following season we began working with Margaret Howell and then began collaboration with Sunspel, a classic English underwear company who produce some of the finest cotton on the market. Two seasons ago MOM began selling the American line Nice Collective in the UK and we began to look for a new showroom. Having just moved Location in London to a bigger showroom we began to look for more brands to work with and after meeting with John in London last May we start our first season with Artificial Flavor.
Q: How did you get into fashion sales?
A: Fashion sales was never part of the plan to be honest. I studied clothing manufacture and textile technology at university in Nottingham in the middle of England. Nottingham also is the home city of the designer Paul Smith and the location of Paul Smith’s head office where I began my career in the Production department. A chance conversation whilst working there led to a move into wholesale. Nearly eight years later I left Paul Smith Ltd as the international Jeans division sales manager. I had a fantastic time there and got to visit some of the world’s best stores in key markets.
Q: What are you most excited about with the upcoming SS09 season?
A: SS09 whilst a little daunting due to the prevailing market conditions is exciting as we have new product to work with and a new showroom space which is a step closer to the overall vision for the agency and its presentation of collections.
Q: What trend are you tired of seeing?
A: When you asked about what I’m tired of seeing trend-wise the fist thing that springs to mind is the tyranny of the skinny jean. To most men over the age of 21 I say don’t do it! Trend it may be, but it’s not a good look for your average Joe.
Q: What is your favorite trade show and why?
A: A favorite trade show has to be Pitti Uomo in Florence Italy. There are two main reasons one is it’s the first of the season so great for trend spotting and secondly working in Florence is great! Having said that I have just visited the shows in Paris and Tranoi had a real buzz about it and a new show to Paris, from New York called Capsule was really interesting and very cool.
Q: Aside from writing orders, how else does a brand benefit from having a salesperson like yourself?
A: The benefits of having a salesperson like me would be (or so I’d like to think) are having a vision of where you can take a great casual wear collection to, in the UK market. Paul Smith gave me an invaluable insight into how to manage a brand that has great penetration in a mature market whilst along side that I got a feel for pioneering brands as I took Paul Smith Jeans into some new places where the brand history didn’t apply. The pioneering thing certainly holds a bigger challenge for me and in my opinion tests your salesmanship skills to a greater degree. I love to be instrumental in the success of breaking a new brand.
Q: What city represents ground zero for men’s premium contemporary today?
A: If I understand you right I’m about to piss a lot of people off so lets pick on somewhere foreign where diplomatic relations are bad already and say Moscow. In my experience all that is tasteless excess seems to emanate from there. To be truthful I have never visited but half of London’s population seems to be Muscovites right now and their questionable attire is on display daily.
Q: When not on the road or in the showroom pushing thenew collection, what do you do with your free time?
A: Free time is taken up with family stuff. I used to have a life as an individual; you know cultural stuff movies or bars and restaurants; generally adult pursuits. I have two kids and they dominate. I think we should return to Victorian Britain and get them working as soon as they can walk, chimney sweeping or mining? You know something to bring an income!! Kids have it too easy these days don’t you think?
Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot?
A: Cornwall in the South West corner of the UK is always a great vacation spot and not too far to travel. But Paris makes a
great City break and Italy has everything from great weather and beaches to the best food in the world so I think Italy has to be the favourite.
Q: Describe what you are wearing right now.
A: what I am wearing right now is a true reflection of my trade in that it is largely made up of samples for which I paid nothing!! The only purchased items are my adidas trainers (sneakers to you) I’m a big Adidas fan just old skool styles nothing too techno. Everything else is effectively stolen! I have some Oliver Spencer slim trousers in navy cotton. A white low V cotton T-shirt from Sunspel and a black fine gauge knit cardigan from a factory I recently visited in Prato Italy, whose collection I may start representing in the UK. In fact I was tempted to say I was wearing a backless scarlet sequined ball gown by John Galliano but I was afraid the joke might backfire.
