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Stephen Spitz: A trip to Harrods saved my fortune

Stephen Spitz overcame a dip in the travel market with a turning point deal

August 30, 2013 09:58
The travel section in Harrods taken over by Mr Spitz

BySandy Rashty, Sandy Rashty

2 min read

It is hard to imagine that the head of Britain’s largest travel goods chain once prepared his staff for company insolvency.

South African-born Stephen Spitz is the chairman and CEO of the multi-million pound Brentano Group, which specialises in the retail and wholesale distribution of top travel brands under sub-divisions Case London and Pelham Leather Goods.

The 48-year-old boss took the divisions from imminent insolvency to success after signing a company-saving deal with Harrods boss Mohamed Fayed at the height of the travel industry crisis — which suffered a 65 per cent dip after the September 11 terror attacks, London bombings and bird flu scare between 2001 and 2006.

“People suddenly stopped travelling and buying suitcases,” recalls Mr Spitz, whose lost £2 m during the crisis.