2026 is a huge milestone for Disley as we celebrate 75 years in business. The business has grown, relocated, innovated and diversified over this period but our values have remained true to those established by Norman and Mavis Williams all those years ago.

Disley has always been a people-centric business and testament to this has been the number of long-serving staff we have on our team. As one of those members prepares for retirement, our esteemed colleague Tony, we recently introduced some new blood – the lovely Dan Roynon – as Business Development Manager.

Today marks 75 days since Dan joined the business, so we thought we would take this opportunity to have a chat with him and allow him to reflect on his time here to date and his aspirations for his future with Disley.

Tell us a bit about your background, Dan.
My background is probably a bit of a mixed bag, which I actually think has helped me enormously in sales and business development. I have a degree in Psychology and Counselling, and professionally I’ve worked across a few very different industries. I’ve spent time in fashion retail, worked within finance and even did a spell working on a farm in the States!
Eventually I found my way into sales, account management and business development, which is where I’ve spent most of my career and where I feel most at home. Over the years I’ve worked with customers of all different sizes, but account management has always been the part I’ve enjoyed most. I like building relationships, understanding how a customer’s business works and finding opportunities that genuinely benefit both sides.
Before joining Disley I’d already spent time within the clothing, garment decoration and print industry, so I came into the role with a good understanding of the market and many of the businesses operating within it.
Has the clothing/fashion industry always been something that has excited you?
Having worked in fashion retail earlier in my career, clothing has always been somewhere in my background, although I don’t think it’s something I was passionate about from early days. What I really enjoy now is the industry surrounding it. Clothing is such a tangible product and there is always something new happening, whether that’s garment decoration, changing trends, sustainability, new fabrics or simply finding better ways of presenting products to customers.
Working within the print and garment decoration industry gave me an appreciation for how important the garment itself is. The best print or embroidery in the world still needs a good quality garment underneath it.
Since joining Disley, I’ve probably become even more interested in the product side of things and in how we can develop and diversify our ranges to reflect the way people actually want to dress for work today, while still maintaining the quality, fit and tailoring that Disley has built its reputation on.
What appealed to you specifically about Disley when you applied to work here?
There were a few things.
Firstly, Disley has genuine heritage. There aren’t many British companies in our industry that can say they’ve been doing what they do for 75 years. That immediately gives you something substantial to build on.
I was also attracted to the fact that Disley is still very much a people-led business. From my early conversations with Craig and the team, it felt like a company where relationships matter and where people are trusted to bring ideas to the table.
And, from a business development point of view, I could see opportunity. Disley already has a strong product range, fantastic stockholding and a very loyal customer base. For me, the exciting part is helping more customers discover that, while also looking at where we can take the brand next.
How have you settled in and what is the feedback on Disley you’ve been hearing from customers to date?
I’ve settled in really well. I’ve spent a lot of my first 75 days travelling, meeting existing customers, reconnecting with people I already knew within the industry and introducing Disley to businesses we haven’t worked with before. That face-to-face contact is really important to me. You learn far more sitting down with somebody and understanding their business than you ever will from sending another sales email.
The feedback about Disley has been incredibly consistent. Customers talk about the reliability of the business, the quality of the garments and, probably most importantly, the people behind it. One thing I hear regularly is that customers know where they stand with Disley. Stock availability, service and having people at the end of the phone who actually want to help still count for a huge amount.
There are also plenty of people who know the Disley name but perhaps don’t realise just how broad the range has become, so that gives us a great opportunity.
What are your thoughts on the business Disley has built over the last 75 years?
I think Disley has some incredibly strong foundations. Reliability is probably one of the biggest strengths. We carry significant stock in Belfast, we can offer fast delivery and we have a team that genuinely cares about looking after customers. In an industry where customers are often working to very tight deadlines, that reliability matters.
I also think the relationships Disley has developed over many years are a huge asset. We have customers who have worked with the business for a very long time, and you only retain relationships like that by consistently doing things properly.
Being a British company with 75 years of heritage behind it gives Disley real credibility too. There is history here, but importantly the business is still looking forward.
I think there is a real opportunity to diversify the product offer and introduce new styles that reflect how workplace clothing is changing. The important thing is that we do that without losing sight of what Disley is already known for: quality, fit, tailoring and garments that perform properly in a working environment.
The exciting thing for me is that we aren’t trying to reinvent what makes Disley successful. It’s about building on those strengths and making them relevant to an even wider audience.
What are your aspirations for Disley in the near future?
Growth, but growth in the right way. I want us to strengthen the relationships we already have while introducing Disley to more garment decorators, distributors and businesses across the UK.
There is also a big opportunity to continue diversifying the range and this is something the team have been working on of late and something I’m glad to be contributing too now.
Workplace clothing is changing. Businesses still want their teams to look smart and professional, but people increasingly expect comfort, versatility and clothing they actually enjoy wearing.
I’d like us to introduce more products that sit naturally alongside our core shirt, blouse and tailoring ranges, without diluting what Disley stands for. Whatever direction the range takes, the quality, attention to detail and tailored feel need to remain.
For me, diversification shouldn’t mean moving away from what Disley is known for. It should mean taking that same approach to quality and tailoring and applying it to new product categories and new ways of dressing for work.
I’d like Disley to become the first name customers think of when they need shirts, blouses, polos, chinos and smart workplace clothing rather than simply being one of the options.
Where do you see Disley by the time it celebrates 100 years?
Hopefully I’ll be answering “25 years with Dan” questions by then!
I’d like to think that when Disley reaches 100 years, it will still be a successful British company and the things that made the business successful in the first place will still be recognisable.
The range will undoubtedly look different. The way people dress for work will change, technology will change and the way customers buy from us will change. I’d expect Disley to have diversified considerably by then too.
But whatever products we are selling, I’d hope the name Disley will still stand for quality, fit, tailoring, reliability and good service.
I think the challenge over the next 25 years will be to keep evolving without losing our identity. Diversify the product, embrace new ideas and respond to how people want to dress, but never compromise on the quality and tailoring that Disley has been known for throughout its history.
If we can do that while continuing to look after customers properly, there is absolutely no reason why Disley shouldn’t enter its second century stronger than ever.