Blacks Outdoor is Britain's leading chain of specialist outdoors and travel stores, catering for serious walker, hiker, camper, adventurer and skier. Black's stocks most of the UK's best known brands of technical clothing, footwear and equipment.

The Outdoor Group comprises Millets and Blacks, the largest outdoor retailers in the UK, and Freespirit and Mambo, the leading retail chains in the newly emerging UK boardwear market.

The Boardwear Division comprises the wholesale and retail arms of the O'Neill brand, one of the world's leading names in boardwear. The Group has the exclusive distribution rights to the brand for the UK.

Blacks also supports some of the UK's most prominent outdoors groups, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (for which Blacks are an official kit supplier), Outward Bound trust, Lake District National park authority and the Council for National parks. Blacks is also a member of GO, the outdoor industry trade association.

From Berghaus and The North Face to Karrimor and Salomon, Blacks has both the understanding and the capability to meet our customers' high standards.

History

The story of the history of Blacks really all began in 1848 when Thomas Black went to sea at the tender age of 12. By the age of 17 he had become a seaman and something of a sail maker. In these few years he seemed to have his share of adventures, including a fight with pirates operating within the Greek Archipelago.

1848: The story of Blacks begins. Thomas Black, our founder, goes to sea aged just 12.

1853: Thomas is one of the many young sailors to catch "gold fever" in Australia, spending over 2 years digging for gold. During this time, he becomes known for his sail-making skills.

1856: Thomas returns to England as a paying passenger, having carefully saved his Australian gold. He later travels to Spanish Guinea in West Africa, acting as an agent for London merchants Laughland and Brown. Although he enjoyed success trading calico and other materials for ivory, the humid climate affected his health and he soon returned home, to work as a sail maker in Glasgow.

1861: He marries, and sets up his own sail-making business in Greenock on the Clyde river. Shipbuilding is a booming industry and he prospers immediately, but the advent of the steamship is just around the corner. His son, Thomas Junior, has the timely idea of transferring their skills into another business: tent making.

1905: Thomas Junior takes over the company upon the death of his father. Notable early commissions include a canvas hanger for the army's first dirigible airship, as well as hospital marquees, bell tents and ambulance covers during World War One.

1931: D Crawford Black, son of Thomas Junior and head of the firm after his father's death in 1930, publishes the first "Good Companions" camping catalogue.

1933: The company supplies lightweight camping gear for the famous Jock Scott walk from Greenock to Cape Town. This expedition was followed by similar trips cross Canada and from San Francisco to New York, cementing the company's reputation as a maker of equipment that could withstand the toughest conditions.

1939-1945: During the Second World War, Blacks makes tents and other canvas gear for the armed forces. They also provide sleeping bags - including those supplied for Sir Winston Churchill's historic meeting with President Roosevelt - and make hazel rod fenders for the Navy, notably used in the D-Day landings. Not even German bombing can halt the success story; within three weeks of the destruction of the Greenock premises by a landmine on 8th May 1941, work is back in progress at temporary workshops to continue Blacks' part in the War effort.

The 1950s: As technological advancements during the 50's leave society with more leisure time, demand for the company's products snowballs. In 1953, Blacks acquires City Camp and Sports Ltd. and increases the Group's already substantial national retail coverage A substantial overseas market is established, particularly in America and Africa, with a subsidiary company launching in Canada in 1958, and a US warehouse in 1962.

1962: Jackson and Warr Ltd, a prominent ski equipment firm in England, is acquired.

1965: Following the company's overseas success, D Crawford Black receives the MBE for his services to export.

1970: Another merger, this time with one of the smaller Milletts chains, brings 19 new retail outlets under the Group's banner.

1975: The consolidation continues with the appointment of Blacks first Retail Shops Director, and a year or two later the retailing name changes from Blacks of Greenock to Blacks Camping and Leisure Ltd.

1984: The company joins forces with Greenfields plc, and the following year changes its name to Blacks Leisure Group plc: the name still used today.

1988: Following the disposal of Sullivans, a specialist ski and outdoor retailer, Alpine Sports is acquired in its place.

1994: Blacks Camping is renamed Blacks Outdoor to reflect its strength in a broader range of outdoor activities: from walking and mountaineering to skiing and snowboarding. An extensive marketing campaign, "Blacks in London", results in conversion of the two Alpine Sports stores to the Blacks format.

1996: The Group decides to concentrate on larger, city centre stores. Blacks Outdoor can now claim to be the largest outdoor and ski specialist retailer in the UK, with around 50 stores. Blacks' relationships with suppliers - the company is often their largest customer - become even stronger. As well as Blacks branded merchandise, all the best known specialist brands (such as Berghaus, Sprayway, Karrimor and Lowe Alpine) are stocked.

2000 and beyond: Blacks is now the country's leading outdoor retailer, with 104 stores nationwide. The style and the design of the stores has been developed to meet the requirements of the modern marketplace.

Managment

Russell Hardy
Chief Executive

Russell (45) joined the Group in November 2004 and was appointed Chief Executive in January 2005. He is also Chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Trust. He was previously Chairman and Chief Executive of Dollond & Aitchison, one of the largest optical retailers in the UK, where he had been in the post for eight years. During this time he led a major restructuring of the business. Prior to joining Dollond & Aitchison he had held senior management positions at Safeway stores and Kingfisher in both commercial and financial roles.

Keith Fleming, CA
Finance Director

Keith (46) joined the Group on 25 April 2006 and was appointed Director on 4 May 2006. Keith has held a number of senior roles within the retail sector including Finance Director of B&Q and both Finance Director and Managing Director of Woolworths Ltd. He has also held a number of other senior finance and strategy roles in a range of companies including Finance Director of S&N UK Ltd. He is a Chartered Accountant having qualified with Moores Rowland in 1984.

Darren J. Spurling
Managing Director of O’Neill

Darren (40) joined the Board in May 2002 and has been O'Neill Managing Director since 1994. He was previously a director of his family run chain of sports shops acquired by the Group in 1988.