Alexander Tom Cussons - Career

Career

Tom Cussons was apprenticed in the town of Ossett. He then moved to Swinton, Salford with his parents. There Cussons worked in partnership with Ernest Jonathan Lake in the firm of Lake, Cussons, and Company. The firm operated as a wholesale druggist until the 25th of January 1894 when the partnership was dissolved. Tom then continued in business with his father. In 1905 his father died and Alexander took complete control of the Cussons Company. Under Tom Cussons the company grew. In 1917 Marks & Spencer penny bazaars began to stock Cussons products. In 1920 Cussons established a soap factory in Kersal Vale, Salford where production continues today. In 1921 he acquired Bayleys of Bond Street. In 1946 he made Cussons Sons & Co into a public company. He also made Cussons into a multinational company, with sales in many Commonwealth countries.

Cussons established the company head office at 84 Brook Street, London in the district of Mayfair. Tom Cussons is best known for manufacturing Imperial Leather soap. However he also manufactured a number of soaps which have since been discontinued. These included Apple Blossom, Linden Blossom, Lilac Blossom and Blue Hyacinth, and beautiful rose perfumed soap that led to the naming of the famous Wendy Cussons Rose. The rose was bred by Gregory & Sons of Nottingham, and was intended to be named after Tom's wife, but instead he asked for it to be named after his son's wife, Wendy. The rose was extremely successful over many years, winning awards, and is still available in 2009, over 50 years after its introduction. Another rose, Julie Cussons, a beautiful salmon coloured floribunda bred by Gareth Fryer of Knutsford, was named after Tom's great grand child, Julie, who died at the age of two in 1986.