Nick and Lucy outside Gun Hill in Burnham Market Gun Hill Clothing Company  Nick and Lucy at the harbour
GUN HILL CLOTHING COMPANY  

By Nick Fryer      
 
"I made a what I guess is called a `lifestyle choice` in moving to North Norfolk. I had always wanted to run my own business, and when the opportunity arose to open my first shop in Burnham market back in 1994, I grabbed it and named it Gun Hill."

"I called it `Gun Hill` as it seemed natural, strong, neutral and for many people like ourselves, it has an assocation with a beautiful place. I wanted to create an environment that was stylish, but without the traditional `menswear` shop image. I`m not a fashion led person, in fact I`m slightly cynical about fashion and trends, but I am fascinated by how people like to present themselves, what they wear for comfort or as part of an expression of character."

Gun Hill Clothing has grown and developed, with four shops now, with Burnham Market, and  Holt in North Norfolk, Saffron Walden in Essex and Southwold in Suffolk ; all selling top names such as Gant, R.M.Williams , Quba, New and Lingwood,  Crew and fabulous Dubarry boots, with ladies wear such as Seasalt, Jackpot, White Stuff,  In Town, and Paul Costello all bought by Nick`s wife Lucy.  

Nick has also developed a very successful own label brand; which started he says , from not being able to find quite what he was looking for. " It has grown into a distinct look of its own; traditional with a twist!"

He has recently expanded the shop in Holt, coinciding with celebrating ten years in the town. And with this new online shopping website , it will enable customers to purchase the bestsellers from most of Gun Hill`s brands.  

"Online shopping is important now, but I imagine it will be essential in the future, both as away of attracting customers to Gun Hill shops, and also to fulfil a growing market who prefer shopping online, and those who know just what they want and simply want to re order. The Holt shop is bigger and better now. We have two distinct parts to the new mens` department, offering both classic casual and a slightly younger, more  outdoorsy range, with new lines such as Ralph Lauren and Timberland.  We chose the locations for Gun Hill in `good little towns` that people enjoy for leisure as well as community, and we have a great team of local staff who come from the surrounding areas and are great fun to work with."

Nick first came to North Norfolk as a child, growing up near Oundle, and returned after his marriage to Lucy after many years in London working in advertising.  

"I came here for family holidays to Brancaster , sailing the same boat that I still sail, and playing in the creeks. We have come to cherish the freedom we have here in Norfolk, I like to walk and play sport , but spend a lot of time with our family. A perfect day for me is a swim in the sea, a trip in a boat-I love the harbour at Brancaster (one moment a landscape of mud creeks and pools in sculpted sand ridges and within hours a moving tide of water providing a new landscape and playground for boats), a fish to eat, and a drink or two!"

Nick admits that his own style is very relaxed, in fact he says that,  "Gun Hill is all about casual moments. I like selling clothes that have attention to fabric detail, bright colours in the summer if touched with the sun, and softer greens and browns for this season. Cardigans are very popular with our younger customers and I hope after many years of success with our `Gun Hill bright socks`-perfect for presents, I am hoping that our new stripey version will go down just as well. I love seeing customers in Gun Hill clothes especially when they look so good-and they do, and men especially are more confident and interested in shopping for themselves now!"
  
 
Nick in the Gun Hill shop at Burnham Market Gun Hill Clothing Company at Burnham Market
 Lucy in the Gun Hill shop at Burnham Market