Alex Campbell Menswear has been providing sartorial elegance in South Dunedin since it was opened at Cargills Corner by Alex Campbell in February 1937.
The company has been owned and operated by the Campbell family ever since.
"I started working at the store part-time, when I was at university. I started out sweeping the footpath and dusting the shelves, so I don't do that now," the founder's grandson and current company director, Lindsay Campbell, said yesterday.
The company at one time operated three Dunedin stores and still has premises in South Dunedin and Mosgiel. The Mosgiel outlet is managed by Mr Campbell's nephew, Bevan Campbell.
"A lot of things are still the same. You buy the plums of the range and try to sell them," Mr Campbell said.
"We've seen most fashion cycles come round several times now. I've seen double-breasted suits come back twice and stove pipes and flares have been back at least twice.
"Hats don't sell like they used to. When Saturday trading came in, Dad said he'd sell 60 hats in a day. For a long time, because of import controls and restrictions, most things were New Zealand-made. There was more tailoring and things were made to measure.
"Our retail stocks increased massively. Now, men can come in and we can fit just about anyone in a suit.
"The biggest single change is that men spend a lot less on their clothing now. Discretionary spend is a mere fraction of what it used to be. Clothing is also lot cheaper now.
"We're a destination store, but we've got generations of loyal customers throughout Otago."
As if to illustrate his point, a customer rang from Tauranga, inquiring about a particular brand of shorts.
"Men are creatures of habit, really, and, if you look after them they're going to stick with you," Mr Campbell said.
"It's still a touchy, feely, try-it-on sort of industry."
