Cotton Traders

Cotton Traders is a British casual clothing retailer founded in 1987 by former England rugby captains Fran Cotton and Steve Smith. Based in Altrincham, it sells leisurewear, footwear, accessories and homeware through stores and online.

What is Cotton Traders?

Cotton Traders is a UK leisurewear retailer headquartered in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. It was founded on 24 April 1987 by Fran Cotton and Steve Smith, both former England rugby union captains.

History

The business started in a small room next to Altrincham railway station, selling rugby shirts by mail order through Sunday newspaper adverts. It then added men's and women's clothing, followed by footwear and accessories. From 1991 it licensed replica jerseys for national rugby teams and was the official RFU kit supplier until 1997.

Next held a one-third stake from 1997 until the founders bought it back in 2014. In 2018 CorpAcq acquired a majority stake in the company.

Products and positioning

• Casual clothing for men and women
• Footwear and lingerie
• Bags, scarves, hats, socks and belts
• Cotton Home homeware

Distribution

Originally a mail-order company, Cotton Traders is now a multichannel retailer with stores on high streets, in retail outlets, garden centres and travel locations, plus websites serving customers in the UK, Ireland, Australia and other markets. Its distribution centre is in Nottingham.

Why it matters

Cotton Traders is a long-running example of a direct-mail apparel business that evolved into a multichannel retailer focused on comfortable, value-led casualwear.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Cotton Traders?

Cotton Traders was founded in 1987 by Fran Cotton and Steve Smith, both former England rugby union captains.

Who owns Cotton Traders?

CorpAcq acquired a majority stake in Cotton Traders in 2018.

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