This one’s for the boys!

Well – the clothes at least.

The story itself, is all in the family! Just like John Craig Clothiers, run by father-daughter duo Blair and Craig DeLongy.

Both Blair and Craig are industry vets, and have grown a successful mens business from concept to multi-location empire.

So who is the John Craig customer?

According to Blair, he’s,“a traditional guy who wants something fun and easy to wear…He comes to us for color, updates, and something new.”

Sound up your alley? We thought it might. Keep reading and then, get shopping!

Written by TSG Contributing Editor, Kate Rowan

As Vice President of the organization, Blair covers everything from buying to marketing for the multiple locations.

Her father, Craig, is the man behind the shop with a rich history in retail.

Craig cut his teeth in the world of Sporting Goods, but followed his gut in transitioning into something he felt more passionate about.

A golf trip in North Carolina landed him in a curated mens shop, where he had his ‘aha’ moment of what he wanted to do next.

“It was a business model he loved and wanted to try out. Everyone told him he was crazy, that everyone in this business was generational, passed on from their grandfathers. He came in not knowing anything and learned as he went,” said Blair.

He saw a niche in the Winter Park area and went for it.

Lucky for Blair, she was in school just down the road at Rollins College.

While in school, she was able to work part-time for the company, learning about the customer, product and process.

After graduating, she took on a manager role at one location, continually evolving in her responsibilities.

“As our stores grew, so did my duties,” she said. “In a family business, everyone works together – all hands on deck!”

Flash forward to now, where Blair and her father are managing 7 successful retail locations in the state of Florida.

She attributes a number of things to their success, with a focus on customer service.

“The customer service you’re going to find when walking into our Jupiter store is night and day from walking into a Nordstrom or Saks,” noted Blair. “Our associates really care – they’re trying to assist you and make sure you look the best you can for any event.”

Whether its assistance in finding the right fit, putting together an outfit, or starting from scratch with their made-to-measure specialist, the team will always find a way to make sure their customers are happy with their new clothes.

We love the personal aspect of ‘just for us’, so we asked Blair to share more on that front.

“Made-to-measure is great for the guy who might be a tricky fit, as well as the guy who maybe has a special occasion and wants something more personalized. We do a lot of weddings…you can put little details under the collar inside the jacket and really make it a fun, personal process,” she says.

In terms of brands carried, John Craig offers a comprehensive range for the polished Florida man.

Samuelsohn, Canali, Greyson, and Peter Millar to name a few.

Fun fact: John Craig is one of the few stores in Florida who carries Peter Millar collection, a made-in-Italy higher end portion of the well-known line.

“What we try to present in our stores are brands that you won’t see everywhere,” shared Blair.

“When we go to market we’re thinking, ‘What department stores carry this line?’ We want to offer something different,” she added.

So what’s on deck for the Spring collection?

“Great, easy, lightweight spring outerwear” is what Blair is most excited about.

“You can be wearing a polo for golf, and you throw on one of these jackets and immediately look more elevated,” she shares.

You can find John Craig locations in Naples, Ponte Vedra, Winter Park and Jupiter, as well as online at www.johncraigclothier.com.

Info on the Jupiter location here:

135 Breakwater Court
Jupiter, Florida 33477

Phone: 561.406.6858