Voisins History

1837 Francis Voisin founded Voisin & Company as a haberdashery shop on 26 King Street, 15th April 1837

Francis Voisin, Founder and proprietor,
1837-1878

1838 Opened the Men's outfitters department.

1840 28 King Street was purchased.

1857 Voisin & Company purchased 24 King Street.

1860 Purchased 30 King Street.

1868 Furniture department opened at 11,13,15,17,19 and 21 New Street. Francis Voisin travelled extensively to buy goods for the shop and was the most travelled Jersey man of his time (Francis Voisin died in 1894).

1878 Voisin & Co converted into a partnership with Francis Bishop Voisin and Emile Auguste Voisin.

Francis Bishop Voisin, Proprietor 1878-1915 

1888 Francis Bishop Voisin bought his brother's share of the business when he retired through ill health. This was an important event, because significant capital was taken out of the business and some properties were released from the Company. No new properties were purchased during this period (Francis Bishop Voisin died in 1915).

1915 Francis Hazzard Voisin (ADC to King George V) took over in 1915.
He introduced motorised delivery vehicles, as everything was delivered in those days.

Francis Hazzard Voisin, Proprietor 1915-1933 

1918 Gaudins Bakery (32 King Street) was purchased.

1933 King Street frontage was rebuilt.

Francis Hazzard Voisin died and Gerald Hazzard Voisin took over. At around this time, buyers were introduced because the proprietor was too busy managing the business to travel to buy goods.

1938 Gerald Hazzard Voisin died in a plane crash. His brother, Francis Ogier Voisin, left the army to run the business.
Gerald Francis Voisin, who was below the age of majority, inherited Voisin and Company.

This was an important event for two reasons. First, because Gerald Hazzard Voisin appeared to have a natural flair for the business, whilst Francis Ogier Voisin did not and would have preferred to stay in the army. Second, war broke out less than a year later; the Occupation was a very turbulent time for Voisin & Co, causing considerable concern for future.

1940 Whilst Jersey was occupied, Voisin & Co only traded on Saturdays, selling second-hand goods.

1946 Gerald Francis Voisin returned to run the business. After 8 years of turmoil, there was much to do. Trade picked up reasonably quickly, but the fabric of the store was in a state of disrepair. The sales area was completely refurbished in stages (when it was affordable) and there appeared to have been some disagreement between Francis Ogier Voisin and Gerald Francis Voisin.

1959 Premises at the back of 24 King Street were acquired.

1966 Voisin & Co's warehouse was built at Rue des Pres trading estate.

1971 A second store was opened in St Malo, France.

1972 Buildings at the back of King Street were rebuilt to provide more space for the China and Glass department, and to improve staff facilities and office space.

1992 Francis Gerald Voisin purchased the business of Voisin & Company from Gerald Francis Voisin.

Francis Gerald Voisin, Proprietor 1992-present 

1996 The shop front was modernised. St Malo branch closed.

1998/9 Gaudins Bakery was sold.

2000 Voisin & Company's name changed to Voisins Department Store.

2007 A major refurbishment of the Ground Floor took place. The main staircase was relocated and allowed us to create the Island's leading Beauty & Fragrance Hall and Accessories Department. 

Beauty Hall Cosmetic & Skin care brands include 

• M.A.C Cosmetics - Exclusive
• Benefit
• Clarins
• Clinique
• Dior
• Estee Lauder
• Guerlain - Exclusive Make-up
• Lancome
• Laura Mercier - Exclusive
• Origins - Exclusive
• Sisley - Exclusive
• YSL

Retail expert David Elliott joins Voisins as Managing Director bringing with him a wealth of knowledge from his experience as Retail Director at the world famous Selfridges and Chief Executive at Bentalls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday 5th August 2009, the exciting new designer fashion floor  launched upstairs in Voisins. The partnership, which brings together the heritage of the Voisins brand, with the contemporary and highly stylish offering of the Collections Group Axle brand, sees an investment of over £1.5 million offering an 8,000 square feet retail experience across the majority of the first floor of Voisins. 

The opening of the transformed retail space launches an extensive mix of brands and styles never before enjoyed in the Island. The new store is divided into two areas, the main floor offering the latest key season trends from top designer brands such as D&G, Hugo Boss, Diane Von Furstenberg, Ralph Lauren, Nicole Farhi, Ted Baker and Mulberry; while the other area solely devoted to denim from brands such as Miss Sixty, Diesel and 7 For All Mankind.

The second phase of the Voisins 1st floor refurbishment launched with the opening of a bespoke shop-in-shop concept brought to you by ‘The World of Tommy Hilfiger’.  The concession will include ranges from Hilfiger’s ladies sportswear and denim collections both exclusive to Voisins in Jersey.  

The new womens’ wear and children’s wear areas offer a combined total of 1380 square feet of retail space and see an investment in excess of £100,000 in shop-fits alone. The new Lingerie department has also been completely refurbished and opened in September 2009 occupying over 2520 square feet of retail space including shop fits from leading lingerie brands such as Calvin Klein, Armani and Princess Tam Tam and Wolford.  Other brands include Passionata, Triumph and Freya.

The Hilfiger concessions and Lingerie department will make up the remaining space on the shop floor alongside the new Axle Woman at Voisins department, which opened on 5th August. 
 

As part of the exciting business developments in Voisins, Friday the 5th of February 2010 saw the launch of the new kid's fashion department upstairs in Voisin. 

The new department showcases contemporary kidswear and accessories aimed at 4 to 12 year olds and also features ranges aimed specifically at fashion conscious early teens up to age 14.  

The spacious retail area covers close to 3,000 square feet and has been designed with a funky fresh feel, perfect for children. Wide screen TV’s are tuned to kids channels and little hands can be kept occupied playing the latest games whilst parents browse the largest selection of children’s fashions in the Channel Islands.  

Naturally the very latest trends in high fashion, classics, denim and surf clothing will be available from favourite brands such as Burberry, Elle, DKNY, Diesel, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren and Timberland and new collections have been added from the likes of Armani Jr, Miss Sixty, O'Neill and Oxbow.
 

 

The White Company, leading lifestyle multi-channel retailer, opened in Voisins on 10th March 2011. The new concession is the first time The White Company bring their homeware, clothing and childrenswear collections to the Channel Islands, split on two floors over 3,000 square foot.

 

The White Company was  founded in 1994 with a new mail order concept to provide beautifully designed, affordable home accessories, principally in white.  A benchmark in the lifestyle market, The White Company today is one of the UK’s pre-eminent and fastest growing brands with 35 retail outlets, mail order and a thriving on-line store. Essentials for the linen cupboard remain at the heart of the product range, which extends to include furniture, bathroom accessories, home fragrance and an extensive fashion collection. A new The Little White Company was launched in 1998, with a range of cool and comfy clothing, gorgeous bedding, furniture and home accessories for children.

April 2011 saw the return of Spanish fashion label Mango to the island with a new department opening on the first floor alongside Iconic, sexy, confident and modern Womenswear brand Reiss to create a fabulous shopping space on the 1st floor. 

 

 

 

The opening of Café 1837, a new restaurant in Voisins on Wednesday 15th June 2011 marks another chapter in the history of the Island’s family-owned department store.

Café 1837 takes its name from the year the current owner, Gerald Voisin’s, great-great-great-grandfather, Francis, founded the store. It occupies a familiar spot with generations of Islanders, that of Gaudin’s which first opened as a bakery  in 1825 and was acquired by the Voisin family in 1918. 

Mr Voisin said he had every confidence that Café 1837 would live up its expectations as a food destination for fashion & food lovers.

The history of Voisins is reflected in the archive photographs taken over the years which hang on the walls next to artwork by local artists. As Voisins is keen to support Island artists, the restaurant will double as a venue for exhibitions in the heart of the town. 

Café 1837 is designed as a place for shoppers to go throughout the day, for freshly prepared snacks and meals, from breakfast butties to traditional afternoon tea treats. The priority is to source Genuine Jersey members and other local produce where possible such as fresh salad, fish and vegetables.

Restaurant manager Sean Copp has 25-years experience in the business. He was general manager of Château La Chaire from 1996 to 2002 and then spent eight years at the former Village Bistro in Gorey Village.

 

 

Mr Copp said they were both looking forward to a new venture in such an established location where Islanders have dined for generations.

‘We hope Islanders will want to make a date to enjoy our great food in a relaxing environment with such a long history in Jersey’s retail trade. Working with Voisins, we have deliberately kept the original art deco features from the old Gaudin’s restaurant but with the addition of fresh colours and contemporary local artwork to create a great dining space,’ he said.