Retail movers and shakers - Tommy Hilfiger and Liberty

We've had quite a lot of fashion business news this week with two top stories being the buy-out of American brand Tommy Hilfiger for a reported 2 billion squid by Philips-Van Heusen and the rocketing share price of Liberty since it was announced that this British leading retailer is up for commercial grabs.

Now, Tommy Hilfiger is the sort of brand I associate with that perfume from my childhhood, Charlie. Only, for me at least, Tommy Hilfiger is more insipid. I have checked out the merchandise in the Carnaby Street shop and nothing would entice me to give my hard-earned to that corporation. Denim is the mainstay of the brand but over the years they have developed into the sort of international brand which has more product lines than you can comfortably count. Tommy Hilfiger currently has Beyonce as its 'face' and that celebrity marketing is another reason why I feel no connection or empathy with the brand. Commercially, it is very successful and there are over 1000 Tommy Hilfiger stores worldwide. But y'know, it's got a tacky Tie Rack feel to it.

Liberty, however, is an absolutley gold standaed store and has a history which you have to gasp at. Not only is the shop a wondrous cavern of fashion and colectible delights, it also built its reputation on scouring teh world for treasures and unusual items to sell. The recent support for British designers and products is shrewd and comforting. Intelligence lurks behind the scenes and front-of-house you get displays and service worthy of great praise.

This season their menswear offering is excellent. I recently compared the collections by Margaret Howell, Marc Jacobs and CP Company and you know what, Liberty's own-name menswear is way better than any of the designer collections I saw stocked. They have beautifully-cut Liberty print shirts with matching ties (£110) and, I can't believe I am going to write this, but they have a selection of citrus shaded polo shirts that are absolutley cracking. I would never have considered buying anything but a Fred Perry polo shirt and I never thought I would have my bias challenged. But jeez Louise, this season's Liberty polos are exquisite and very well priced at £65. Not all the stock is in yet, so I plan to pop in again soon to see wehat else is coming through. The sizes are quite Japanesey - so girls like me can probably get away for Small or Extra Smalls.

Because Liberty is so genuinely good, I think it is the sort of brand, which, like Clarks, would really benefit from being kept in British hands and preferably run as a family business.