Scott Thompson started off in the clothing business when he was only 11 years old after his father brought him into his clothing store to mark up socks. Years later, despite earning a university degree in biology, those early experiences might have played a role in drawing Thompson back into the business.
He now owns and manages the oldest family-owned clothing store in North America, W&J Wilson.
“I guess you could say that the clothing business was woven into my DNA,” said Thompson.
The store had its beginnings more than 160 years ago when, only a few steps from the walls of Fort Victoria, the store’s founder, William Willson, landed at the wrong port with his 18 trunks of clothing (he thought he was going to New Westminster). He stayed and began selling clothing to the community.
The Wilson family continued to operate the W&J Wilson store until 1954, when Thompson’s grandfather bought into the business, beginning a second family’s connection to the company. That transition to a new family’s legacy in the business was completed when, in 1972, Thompson’s father, Tom, secured a bank loan to buy Harold Wilson’s remaining shares.
The store carries men’s and women’s fashions that range from stylish yet casual to high-end items and even customized suits.
“It’s important to us to live up to the legacy of the business. The secret to our longevity is that we work very hard and we change with the times,” Thompson said. “Fifty years ago, it was all suits and ties, but things have become far more casual as time has passed.”
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the family’s commitment to quality.
We caught up with Thompson as he was about to embark on his latest buying trip to Europe, where the store still sources the bulk of what they sell.
“We do all our importing from Europe, so what we carry is different from everyone else. We pride ourselves in offering good quality clothing at a reasonable price,” said Thompson.
In 2021 W&J Wilson shuttered its Government Street store in response to a shifting market and, instead, decided to concentrate its efforts on their Sidney and Oak Bay locations.
“You have to change with the times and be responsive to your customers,” said Thompson. “But, make no mistake, our other two stores are continuing the tradition of providing great service to the community. A lot of it is based on the relationships that we’ve built up over the years. We have a hands-on, personalized approach that people still appreciate.”
The extent to which those long-term relationships are at the bedrock of W&J Wilson’s business model is demonstrated, in part, by the experience and longevity of their staff. Helena Andrews, for example, is a seamstress at the Oak Bay store who has been with the landmark clothier for 37 years. As you might expect, there’s not much about the business and the products that she doesn’t know.
“Our knowledgeable staff and the relationships we’ve built with our customers over these many years is really what sets us apart, and it’s why we continue to be successful,” said Thompson. “Victoria is a big city, but in many ways it still has characteristics of a small city. People will always value community-based businesses that they can trust.”
