People often asked me why I called my business Charles Tyrwhitt. The easy answer is, it sounded better than “Nick Wheeler”.
Charles Tyrwhitt are my middle names. It also seemed right to remember my forebear, poor Sir Hercules Tyrwhitt, slain in 1067 on a bridge in Northumbria. If Hercules was prepared to be slain in battle, the least I could do was to name my little shirt company after him…
You may wonder why a little bird appears on some of our products. Not any old bird, but a bird close to the heart of our founder, Nick Wheeler. When Nick started Charles Tyrwhitt back in 1986, he needed to come up with a name for his fledgling shirt company. “Nick Wheeler” didn’t cut the mustard, but his middle names Charles and Tyrwhitt felt right. Tyrwhitt was the name of Nick’s great-great (and a few more greats) grandfather Sir Hercules. Not even Nick is old enough to remember him, but Hercules was quite the man about town in 1107AD. Residing in Northumberland, during the Norman Conquest he was severely wounded defending a bridge against several assailants. He fell exhausted among the rushes of an adjoining swamp and into a nest of lapwings (in some counties called “Tyrwhitts”). Hercules’ friends found the spot where he lay thanks to the lapwings singing and hovering above him. From that day on, Hercules acquired the name Tyrwhitt, and Nick will be forever grateful to the little loud chirpers for inspiring the name of Charles Tyrwhitt.
Hosted by Harvey Bracken-Smith, the Personable podcast discusses all things business and success with notable leaders and pioneers. In this interview, he talks to Nick about starting a business, making mistakes, and plans for the future
Since starting the business, my aim has been the same - to make a great product that lasts, at unbeatable value for money, with exemplary customer service, a pinch of British charm and a commitment to do things properly and responsibly.
From our flagship on London’s famous Jermyn Street, to our stores across the UK, USA, even Paris, and our far-reaching online store - no stone has been left unturned in our pursuit of fun, easy shopping.
Since starting this business three decades ago (and putting my middle names to it), doing things “properly” has always been important to me. It applies equally to our product, our people and our planet. And as I get older and perhaps even a little wiser, we are now doubly committed to this philosophy for the next 35 and beyond.
