M&Co Trading Limited, trading asM&Co.) is a Scottish online retailer and former high street chain store selling women's, men's, and children's clothes, as well as small homeware products. Its head office is in Inchinnan, Scotland,[4] though its main buying office is in London.[3][5] Previously, its head office was at Caledonia House in Paisley.[6] The company previously operated as Mackays Stores Limited until its 2020 administration, previously trading as Mackays.
Established in 1834 as pawnbrokers, Mackays switched to selling clothes in 1953 by brothers Len and Iain McGeoch. In 2005 the company rebranded as M&Co. to reflect a more modern image.[7]
The chain operates over 300 stores and also has an online presence.[8]
M&Co. closed all of its stores in April 2023 and moved to a sole online company.
History
19th century
In 1834, the McGeoch family founded a pawnbroker business in Paisley, Renfrewshire.[citation needed]
20th century
In 1953, Len and Iain McGeoch began converting their six pawnshops to clothing stores.[9] In 1970, the company acquired Ghinns Ltd., extending its retail clothing business in the London area.[10] In 1986, the company acquired Apparel Affiliates Inc., owner of 140 retail clothing stores in the United States.[11]
21st century
In 2005, the company began converting all 270 of its stores to the M&Co. banner.[7]
In March 2012, the first of several international franchise stores opened, beginning with the first of many in Dubai at the Dubai Mall, with further UAE expansion planned.[12]
In December 2022, M&Co went into administration with Teneo Financial Advisory as administrators.[14]
On 6 February 2023, it was announced that M&Co would be closing all 170 stores in the spring of the same year, with the last of them closing by the end of April 2023.[15]
^"Contact Us". Mackays Stores. Archived from the original on 29 April 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2012. Mackays Stores Ltd Caledonia House, Caledonia Street, Paisley, PA3 2JP