“We loaded up the 2CV car and set off for the market.”
Eileen Douglas – truly a doyenne of the equestrian trade – passed away peacefully on Saturday, 27 June.
She was 86 and had been in hospital with a short illness.
Eileen was the hugely popular founder of Eileen Douglas Tackshops, which today has branches in Wokingham, Berkshire, and Eversley in Hampshire, plus an online store at tackshop.co.uk.
News of her death prompted hundreds of messages across social media as customers and friends expressed their affection, respect and gratitude for Eileen’s contribution to the equestrian community over many years.
Horsey family
Eileen was born Co Down, Northern Ireland and grew up in a horsey family.
She met her late husband Malcolm John Douglas, who passed away 18 months ago, when he was stationed in Northern Ireland. Later, the couple moved to Finchampstead in Berkshire where they lived for 50 years and brought up four children.
The Douglas family always spent their summer holidays back in Northern Ireland. They loved to go riding at the local riding school which was run by the father of Irish retailer Bill Holmes of Holmstead Saddlery.
Early trading
Eileen’s son Michael Douglas takes up the story.
“Bill has just started Holmstead and he persuaded my mother to buy some stock, he said.
“Back then [the 1980s] there was no Sunday trading, so the [Sunday] markets were thriving. We packed mum’s 2CV car and set off for Blackbushe market [near Camberley].
“It was vast. Unless you were a regular, you had to get there at 3am to get a pitch. I think the owners liked us because, before long, we got a regular pitch – which meant we didn’t have to get there until 5am!”
Eileen and Michael also managed to secure free advertising on the local radio station. “There were all sorts of stalls at Blackbushe market, but because we were a bit different, they picked up on us and the adverts stated with ‘Clip clop, clip clop to Eileen Douglas Tackshop…’
Indeed, the business got its name during those early market trading days, mainly from necessity.
“Customers could only write a cheque to a person’s name, so that’s how we came to be Eileen Douglas – with Tackshops added on,” explained Michael.
During the week, on non-market days, customers would telephone Eileen with their requirements. And many paying tribute to her last week recalled the warm welcome when visiting her home to collect their new jodhpurs or grooming brushes.
“At that time, some people used to complain about ‘back bedroom’ businesses. And I suppose in the early days, we were one!” says Michael. “But it kept the customers happy and got us started.”
Business partners
By the late 1980s, Eileen Douglas Tackshops had opened in a feed store in Wokingham owned by Baileys Horse Feeds. Michael quit his job and became a partner in the business with Eileen.
Eileen’s husband – by now the director of the Civil Aviation Authority - was “quietly supportive” of his wife and son’s now thriving business, says Michael. And he always did ‘the books’ for them.
The early 1990s saw Eileen and Michael buy the Wokingham premises and retail feed business from Baileys. Eileen Douglas Tackshops was expanding.
“At one time, we had four shops,” says Michael. “We’ve always been in Wokingham and we also had stores in Henley-on-Thames, Old Basing and Sandhurst.
“Now we have the two, in Wokingham and Eversley. And we’ve really embraced the online side, initially with my father’s help.”
Hard work and customer service
Eileen worked in her tackshops – where she was usually to be found behind the till - six or seven days a week.
“She enjoyed it; she loved meeting people. And what made her special was her knowledge and willingness to provide for their needs,” says Michael.
“She was an honest retailer who believed in good, old-fashioned customer service. And of course, she worked hard.”
Although she maintained a keen interest in the business, Eileen didn’t return to working in the stores after Covid.
Great supporter of BETA
One of BETA’s earliest and most loyal members, Eileen was very enthusiastic about completing all the trade association’s training courses.
“She was a great supporter of BETA,” says Michael. “We used to go to BETA International every year. She also loved going to spoga [trade fair] – a weekend away in Cologne was always a highlight.”
Michael continues to run Eileen Douglas Tackshops, maintaining Eileen’s enduring legacy of excellence in equestrian retailing.
