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Independent Stores Association - ISA and later it became Associated Independant Stores Ltd - Associated Independent Stores - AIS Members included David Evans in Swansea, Jenners in Edinburgh, Arnotts in Dublin, Ireland, Bonds of Norwich, Bentalls of Kingston Upon Thames & other branches, Beales of Bournemouth, Ricemans of Canterbury, Murrays of High Wycombe, Clements of Watford, Anderson & McAuley of Belfast List of ISA Member Stores Here See also other Independent Department Stores from the 1970s
Suters of Slough & Uxbridge, Grants of Croydon, Dingles of Plymouth & Bentalls of Kingston-Upon-Thames
Keddies of Southend, Heals of Tottenham Court Road, London, Cockaynes of Sheffield & David Morgan of Cardiff
David Evans of Swansea, Colmers of Bath, Brown Thomas of Grafton Street - Dublin & Palmers of Yarmouth
Beales of Bournemouth, Poole & Bealsons of Bournemouth, W.Eaden Lilley & Co of Cambridge & Hammonds of Hull
Anderson & McAuley of Belfast, Schofields of Leeds, Bonds of Norwich & Brown Muff's of Bradford
Anderson & McAuley was located close by at Donegall Place and Castle Street and closed in March 1994. In 2024 the building is occupied by Clarks and Zara - See also Belfast's Anderson & McAuley: A store full of happy memories @ The Belfast Telegraph 2015 Tom Suter's involement with the ISA included Anderson & McAuley in Belfast and Arnotts in Dublin (Source Tom Suter January 2025)
Suters Ltd. were elected to the Independent Stores Association on the 1st February 1969.. What is the Independent Stores Association? (often known as the I.S.A.) Founded in 1948, The Independent Stores Association consists of twenty family owned department stores whose directors and principal executives realise the value to their businesses of an Association, the objects of which are summarized below:- (1) To exchange statistical and other information (on trading). (2) To promote research into operating methods. (3) To compare and improve merchandise methods. (4) To exchange information regarding sources of supply and to promote exclusive lines of merchandide. (5) To encourage creative merchandising by improving the range, standards of quality and design of merchandise. The Association aims at the maximum of mutual aid compatible with individual freedom. Members derive results commensurate with the efforts they are themselves prepared to contribute. Members retain their individuality completely and there is no central financial control. -------------o0o------------- I.S.A. CONFERENCE FOR DIRECTORS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES - 11-13 March 1969 - venue Lygon Arms, Broadway, Worcs. Attendted by Messrs. T.W. & I.S.A. Suter. This course, run by Mr. Ronald Beale and his Committee, proved highly acceptable to those participating. it was designed primarily for executives whose responsibilty lies more in the merchandising field, for training in some of the financial aspects of management. It was obvious that there was a realisation amongst member stores of this Association that only by increasing their understanding of the financial matters concerning our businesses could we merchants more successfully assist in our enterprise. The content of the conference had been designed in a context which did not expect such a bevy of Company Secretaries to be included and consequently some speakers felt that they should raise the standard for appraisal to one which these participants might not feel was wasting their time. Mere merchants, therefore, found the speed and terminology beyond their sciptive powers on occasion but nevertheless highly informative. My own view was that on the matter of finance there was insufficient time and visual aids or summaries would have improved an otherwise interesting team of speakers. Harold Boundy spoke to us in the opening session on the Interpretation of Accounts and Financial Ratios, and here I felt that we could have carried out an exercise, possibly using our own results for comparison. Frank Scott took up the matter of Producing the Data and Statistics required by Management, and gave us considerable insight into the fast moving advances computerisation and mechanisation can bring to the retail trade. A sound word of advice was introduced by him when he warned us that now, prior to decimalisation, was the time for us to review our stationery libraries and therow out unecssary paperwork. He reminded us that Lord Marks had deemed "that the price of perfection was prohibtive". Two sessions on Critical Path Analysis bt John Sharpe from the College of Magement Studies were to me a very instructional nature, and I found the short exercise given to us a useful aid to undertanding. His colleague, Kenneth Ambrose, introduced the Human Factor in Profits and Motivation of Staff, and here again I found the syndicated half-hour beneficial together with the film on Professor Herzberg's view of motivation. Sessions on the Companies Act and Corporation Tax, Decimalisation and Chairing of A meeting produced again interesting thoughts and information. Evaluation of the Conference by members produced the suggestion that an introduction to the course on the evening of arrival would save time, and that it was necessary for speakers to receive a more definite briefing upon the area of coverage. As very new members we were greatly impressed by the ability shown within the Association, and as a merchant member of the Conference i would consider the general standard to have been high in content and well suited to our needs. The inclusion of members already well versed on financial matters does not detract from the general benefits of their presence since they provoke discussion in areas not immediately seen from the merchandise side. They expressed similar thoughts in suggesting the benefits which would accrue to them on a merchandise type course and ny own view is that no serious problem is involved here until far greater specialisation becomes possible. T.W.Suter, Merchandise Director. ____________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________ Robert Suter recalls that he became a member of the ISA (Independent Stores Association Ltd) as a Junior executive in 1972. This changed to the AIS (Associated Independent Stores) in July 1976. He regularly attended meetings alongside fellow directors. Meetings were held at different locations and hosted by fellow members of the AIS / IAS such as: May 1972 - David Morgans of Cardiff; attended by Robert and Michael Suter May 1973 - Various stores in Dusseldorf and Stuttgart (Germany); attended by Robert and Michael Suter March 1974 - Grants of Croydon; attended by Michael Suter April 1975 - Heals of Guildford and Bental's of Worthing - attended by Robert and Michael Suter Feb 1977 - Eaden Lilley of Cambridge; attended by Robert Suter Sep 1977 - Russell & Dorrell of Worcester; attended by Robert Suter. Interestingly where Anita Suter later worked. April 1978 - David Evans of Swansea; attended by Robert and Philip Suter
Don Truckle was standing next to Robert. Mr D A Truckle was the AIS Selector for the AIS China and Glass Steering Committee in 1977/78 at the same time that Robert was the chairman.
See also: Robert Suter's Memories of working at Suters Ltd ____________________________________________________________________ Philip Suter noted "David Evans in Swansea" was a member of the AIS - Associated Independent Stores like Suters Ltd and part of the arrangement was visits and meetings at other member stores. In April of 1978 Philip and his brother Robert went to Swansea for such a visit. At that time negotiations were nearly completed with Owen Owen, however everything was confidential and so outwardly we had to show that business was normal, they too were in the process of selling."
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Above: At this stage the association was branded as "Associated Department Stores" (Images above do not enlarge)
In 2018 The Associated Independent Stores - AIS is still very much in business including department stores like Browns Department Stores of York amongst it membership ____________________________________________________________________ Return to Full Suters Index | Return to Spotlight page
____________________________________________________________________ Source of images, unless otherwise stated - Suter family archives |
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See More Information about David Evans and that visit to Swansea in
April 1978 Here
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