Scaling A Heritage Brand: Bringing a Local Lens to Growth Strategy
Retail is evolving at a lightning pace, with consumer expectations higher and more informed than ever before. Deloitte research shows that 80 percent of consumers prefer brands that offer personalized experiences, with those customers spending up to 50 percent more. For heritage retailers, this shift presents both opportunity and challenge: how do you honor local legacy while competing in a world where customer expectations are increasingly shaped by global brands and digital-first experiences?
How can a heritage brand balance timeless tradition with modern growth strategies that resonate with both local communities and a new generation of shoppers?
In this episode of Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez sits down with Gary Flynn, co-owner and CEO of M. Dumas & Sons, to explore the evolution of Charleston’s beloved menswear destination. The discussion covers Flynn’s career journey from Nordstrom to Hugo Boss to Samsung, and how his global perspective is fueling the growth of a century-old local institution. Together, they unpack strategies for trendspotting, creating customer-centric retail experiences, and evolving heritage brands for long-term relevance.
Key Talking Points from the Episode
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Evolution Through Experience: Flynn shares how his time at Nordstrom, Hugo Boss, and Samsung shaped his leadership style and informed his approach to steering a single-location heritage brand into the future.
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Staying Ahead of Trends: From vendor networks to peer conversations, Flynn emphasizes the importance of collaboration and open information sharing in navigating rapidly changing consumer expectations.
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Balancing Legacy and Innovation: The conversation explores how M. Dumas & Sons maintains its Charleston roots while embracing luxury expansion, youth-driven insights, and modern partnerships with brands like Southern Tide and Johnny-O.
Gary Flynn is the co-owner and CEO of M. Dumas & Sons, a Charleston-based heritage menswear retailer. His career began at Nordstrom, where he spent nearly three decades working his way from the stockroom to national merchandise manager. He later held senior merchandising roles at Hugo Boss and Samsung, gaining global retail experience across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Today, Flynn brings that expertise to M. Dumas & Sons, guiding the brand’s evolution through strategic partnerships, luxury expansion, and a community-centric approach to growth.
