Iconic Perth store adds jewel to its’ crown

Jul 2 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ICONIC Perth department store, McEwens, has just added another jewel to its crown.

The new gem is jeweller Alex Cairncross, great-granddaughter of Alexander Cairncross, who with brother George established the equally distinguished Fair City retailer, A&G Cairncross in 1869.

Just one year prior to the brothers opening their doors at 18 St John Street, entrepreneur James McEwen had started trading an arm’s throw away at number 56.

A family-run business, McEwens flourished and in 1982 was acquired by the Bullough family.

Today, the modern incarnation of the 148-year store is owned by John and Georgina Bullough, the fifth generation of Bulloughs in the drapers trade.

Meanwhile, A&G Cairncross has been in the safe hands of the Rennie family since the late 1980s, following the death of Alastair Cairncross who ran the business with his brother Jimmie.

Now the younger generations of both Perth retail families have been united under one roof, with Alex opening a concession in McEwens, specialising in silver gifts, jewellery and pearls.

Alex, who cut her teeth in A&G Cairncross at age 15, opening her own business in 2007, said she was over the moon.

“The staff are so friendly and welcoming at McEwens, something for which dad and uncle Jimmie will always be remembered, and it's wonderful to be back in St John Street too,” she said.

However, the family ties of all three families have deeper roots than close proximity.

In 1977, for example, A&G Cairncross supplied the bling for a fashion show co-hosted with McEwens in aid of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust.

Regularly rubbing shoulders with the Bulloughs via the St John Street Traders Association, Alastair and Jimmie were also creatures of habit.

“Alastair and Jimmie had their lunch delivered every day, on a tray, by the porter from the McEwens Peacock Restaurant,” said Georgina Bullough.

“At the same time, Alastair, who was a founding member of the Perth Festival of the Arts, served on the festival committee with my grandmother, Dorothea, the late Countess of Mansfield.

“And many of the Mansfield family private gifts came from the Cairncross family business over the years, such as a wedding anniversary brooch of gold fern with Tay pearls for the current Countess.”

Describing Alex’s in-store merchandise as outstanding and affordable quality, John Bullough added:

“We are delighted to be able to continue the long-term association between the families.”