kilts in shops

**Jaggy thistle** · 21st March 10, 02:29 PM

As a full time kilt wearer I am most surprised and disapointed at the lack of kilted male staff in shops selling Scottish goods most have their female staff in tartan skirts but the men in trousers! We were at the House of Bruar which has its own tartan not a kilt on any man ladies looked good in tartan skirts !come on shopkeepers I am quite shure it would increase trade if the men wore the kilt

**McClef** · 21st March 10, 03:19 PM

Alas that is so often the truth in the quality kilt shops.

In contrast, you can bet your bottom dollar that the tat shops will have staff modelling their wares!

**RockyR** · 21st March 10, 04:47 PM

While I wouldn't consider ourselves a 'tartan tat' shop, I wear a kilt daily in our store (whether the shop is open or not) and Mac wears one every day the shop is open.

My thoughts on it are: Why should the person buy from me if I'm not willing to even wear the product I'm selling.

I'm pretty sure that Steve (FK), Matt Newsome (STM) and Robert (RK) wear kilts in their stores as well.

**Zardoz** · 21st March 10, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Why should the person buy from me if I'm not willing to even wear the product I'm selling.

I know if I walked into a kilt shop, I'd expect the person that was gonna be advising me on my purchase to be in a kilt. The kilt would provide a outward sign of product knowledge, (real or imagined) particularly to a new buyer.

This reminds me of the many times while working in motorcycle shops that customers asked me if I rode before asking me a question. I'd think, "If I didn't ride, why would I be working here?". But I guess they'd run into guys with no product knowledge before, and wanted to check my qualifications.
But I think people are just used to less, I know I've purchased a lot of "specialized" items over the years, from electronics to firearms, from people that couldn't answer many of my questions about their wares. I have on occasion paid a little extra when shopping around because of the particular merchant's product knowledge.

**Nighthawk** · 21st March 10, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

I know if I walked into a kilt shop, I'd expect the person that was gonna be advising me on my purchase to be in a kilt. The kilt would provide a outward sign of product knowledge, (real or imagined) particularly to a new buyer.

I agree! I'm working on getting a Celtic wedding business up and going, and I always wear the products of the business I support when meeting with couples. The brides love it, and the looks in the ladies eye usually convinces undecided grooms that they should get one now, so they can get some later- if you know what I'm sayin'...

That actually is one the reasons I'm full time kilted. People ask me all the time "Where did you get that?!?!" and I hand them a business card and say "Email and I'll show you!" It's great self promotion.

**Tobus** · 21st March 10, 06:13 PM

Zardoz pretty much nailed it. I'd even go so far as to say I wouldn't buy a kilt from someone who didn't wear one himself. Whether it's an in-person purchase or online, I want to know that the person I'm buying from knows about wearing kilts... by wearing a kilt.

If a kilt shop is hiring people to sell their wares who aren't interested in wearing a kilt to work, they are hurting their own business.

**Hamish** · 21st March 10, 06:32 PM

The male staff members at the Hector Russell shops in Edinburgh and Inverness used to wear the kilt whilst on duty, and Howie Nicholsby at TFCK in Edinburgh certainly does, but I do not recall seeing them being worn at any other Highland Dress shops over here.

Back in the 1960s/70s, the staff at The Scotch House in Knightsbridge, London always were kilted but, alas, that fine emporium was swallowed-up by Burberry and closed down years ago.

Take care,
Ham.

**MacFett** · 21st March 10, 10:28 PM

I've never seen Brad @TKN not in a kilt... Well once in a picture.

I know I wouldn't want to purchase a kilt from a shop keeper/attendant that didn't themselves wear a kilt.

**guitarmatt** · 22nd March 10, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by Hamish

...and Howie Nicholsby at TFCK in Edinburgh certainly does...

Howie was looking quite sharp when I stopped in his shop on a whim a few weeks ago, and I'll say that seeing the product in action certainly made me want one. They were really helpful and friendly as well, willing to chat with my wife and I while our 2 yo tried to get into everything all while the shop was pretty busy. Almost makes you feel like 350 quid for a machine sewn kilt is worth it. And machine sewn or hand sewn, everything hanging in the shop was absolutely gorgeous.