ANOTHER MILLIONAIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 16

ANOTHER MILLIONAIRE

MAWS ROMANTIC RISE

s 'Starting off at the end of the war with* nothing ha his pocket but his £30 gratuity, Mr. Trevor Lewis has in 15 years entered the select ranks of British, millionaires, writes the Sydney "Sim's" London representative. , Before he enlisted he had a job in a South Wales steel milL It was a modest job. But he found it was no longer /his when he came to claim it after discharge from the Army.

It was just one of the little accidents of destiny. ' v

In a little tailor's shop Where he went to outfit- - himself in "civvies" once more, the young Welshman had an inspiration. He found himself realising that there'was a lot*of profit in an £8 suit. That realisation was to make his fortune. So, with the £22 which remained of his gratuity aft* paying the tailor, he started a tailoring business. He took two rooms and hired a cutter, and went out himself to collect orders. 1 In his first year he turned over more than £5000. The year after, he opened six branches, i Trade increased to £300 a week. Now he employs a staff of 200 and has a weekly wage bill of £16,000. Then three years ago Mr. Lewis broke into the furniture business by t buying a Wolverhampton shop, and "his'amazing success has now culminated in the acquisition of the large concern known as the Midland and '-'Hackney Furniture Co., Ltd., for which he is said to have paid about £500,000. This purchase he was able to finance himself, without having, recourse to a public share issue. : Last year Mr. Lewis was said to. own tfie' largest personally conducted tailoring business in the world. Now he belieyeshe can claim to have the largest retail furnishing business. He also owns.a chain-store business.

Probably -nothing in the history of modern business,since.the rise of men like Ford and Rockefeller quite equals the>record of Mr. Lewis.