Founded in Leeds, West Yorkshire in 1907 by Henry Price, the chain expanded to over 400 stores across the country, most of which traded under the Fifty Shilling Tailors brand.

In order to recoup the cost of the purchase Hanson sold on a number of UDS assets, including John Collier, for £47.5 million to a management buy-out team.

[2] In 1985 the company was sold on to the Burton Group, but the brand was discontinued and no longer exists today.

[3] On 17 December 1975, the Prince of Wales visited for the formal opening of the head office extension.

[citation needed] The advertising tagline, used in a number of variations over the years, was "John Collier – The Window to Watch".