Canadian online luxury medium TheTopTier.net hosts an exclusive interview with The Foxley Docket Editor In Chief, Matthew Fairhurst, to discuss the launch, the luxury market and the economic climate’s affect on the UK luxury sector.
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A quick overview of business news would indicate that there may be some problems with worldwide economic stability. While that may be so in certain areas, luxury car makers and fashion brands have been posting record sales for 2012 and the outlook for 2013 only gets better.
With no real slowdown in luxury spending in China and India becoming the next hot luxury market, those that have the money don’t mind spending it on the finer things in life.
The UK has a new luxury lifestyle magazine that begins publishing on January 19th and TheTopTier.net had the pleasure of an exclusive interview with the Editor in Chief of The Foxley Docket, Matthew Fairhurst.

TheTopTier.net: What is the mission of The Foxley Docket?
Matthew Fairhurst: “Amidst a burgeoning concern over the representation of luxury in the regional print media, our group of journalists, business figures and retail experts made the decision to create a publication that would provide a true account of the ever-thriving industry.”
TTT: Why start a new luxury publication?
MF: “In the UK media, the word ‘luxury’ is largely misrepresented to mean nothing more than an expensive version of a standard product.
However, true luxury, as we see it, is not your average commodity but a celebration of quality, ingenuity, individuality and exclusivity. Be it jewellery, horology, sailing or motoring – the luxury sector is a constantly evolving world, available to only a select few, it is not governed by geography; it is not limited by price. It is timeless and it is legendary.”
TTT: Why start a luxury magazine in the current economic climate?
MF: “Although the UK has been hit by the recession, and just recently many high street chains have closed (Comet, Jessops – possibly HMV), the luxury industry is still doing well. In terms of British industry in particular, Rolls Royce have just announced that business is booming, and they are now employing more people across the UK to cope with the demand. At the end of the day, people will always pay the price of quality. “

TTT: Why in North West England?
MF: “As the Barclays wealth map indicates, The North West of England is the luxury capital of the UK. Not only is there a high volume ofaffluent people across the region, but luxury retailers are also more frequent here [and the numbers are growing] than any other focussed part of the country.”
Here are some points from the Barclays wealth map:
- Between 2008 and 2010 this region saw an increase in its number of millionaires of 16%, from 55,000 to 64,000
- The North West has the third largest number of millionaires in the UK, whose numbers will grow by 36% by 2020
- The [North West] region is the luxury shopping capital of the UK, with a higher proportion of luxury retailers than anywhere else.
Source: Barclays Wealth 2011 UK Wealth Map
TTT: What have the initial reactions been to The Foxley Docket?
MF: “The reactions have been entirely positive. Many contacts in the luxury sector have told me that there are very few UK publications which wish to truly represent the industry. This is where the magazine has its strengths – I can always guarantee that there will never be any substitute for quality with The Foxley Docket.”
To view the full article online, visit: http://thetoptier.net/index.php/home/luxury-business-news-and-updates/1101-the-foxley-docket-a-new-luxury-lifestyle-publication-for-the-uk