Suitable Man
Delivery estimate
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Delivery estimate
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Suitable Man
Description
'In 1924, into the tiny town of Warrnambool, which then had a population of a fraction under 4000 people, there came a travelling salesman...' Australians of a certain generation all know Fletcher Jones - the stores, the clothing, the daggy dad slacks - but not many people know the extraordinary story of the man who founded the store. A Suitable Man tells the remarkable life and achievements of Fletcher Jones.
Many Australians know of Fletcher Jones - the stores, the clothing, the daggy dad slacks - but few know the extraordinary man behind it all. David Fletcher Jones was an autodidact, a wanderer and dreamer who became a visionary businessman and social entrepreneur.
His rise was unlikely. The stammering, motherless son of an impoverished Bendigo blacksmith, he left school at thirteen and ended WWI buried alive by a shell explosion in France. Despite the horrors of war, he never lost his humour, optimism or deep regard for people. After an epiphany in the veteran's dole queue, he decided to become master of his destiny. He began as a travelling salesman in the Western District before opening a tailor's shop. Business boomed. Later, he bought five acres outside Warrnambool for his factory and put a sign over the front: 'Fletcher Jones and Staff'. Because not only was Fletcher Jones revolutionising menswear with his ready-to-wear trousers, but remarkably, his manufacturing and retail empire was founded on profit-sharing and staff ownership.
His life is a fascinating reflection of Australia's twentieth century progress across social policy, immigration, manufacturing, the city and country divide, the rise and fall of wool. But most important, perhaps, is what we can learn from his fundamental human decency and his determination to run an enterprise for profit while seeking to do good at individual and societal levels. There are lessons for us all in a life like Fletcher's.
'Everyone knows the name, but no-one knew the story - until this fresh, sprightly and immensely readable biography.' Gideon Haigh
'In A Suitable Man, Jock Serong deftly unpacks the enigmatic and legendary figure of Fletcher Jones ... and surprises and humanises a boss with 'a desk in the middle of the shop floor'.' Shane Howard
Shipping & Processing
This item is in stock with our supplier and usually ships within 2–5 business days.
Processing times
- In stock: Items marked “In Stock” are on our shelves. We pick, pack and ship them within 1–2 business days.
- In stock with our supplier: Items not marked “In Stock” are held by one of our Australian or overseas suppliers. We order them in for you and they usually dispatch within 2–5 business days (3–5 for some suppliers). The estimate next to the price is for this item.
- Special orders: Some supplier items, such as specialist and imported items, titles awaiting reprint and print-on-demand titles, take longer to arrive. If your order includes one, we’ll update you as soon as we hear from our supplier.
- Supplier delays: Occasionally a supplier is delayed, or their stock information turns out to be inaccurate. We’ll keep your order open for up to 60 days. If an item hasn’t shipped or isn’t on its way to us by then, we’ll cancel that item and refund it.
How accurate is availability?
Availability is based on the stock levels our suppliers tell us they hold, and we update it regularly. If a supplier issue affects your order, we’ll let you know with an updated estimate.
Delivery
- As soon as your order ships you’ll get an email with tracking.
- Australia Post usually delivers within 2–10 business days of shipping (around 4 in metro areas and around 6 in regional areas).
- If your order has more than one item, we hold the in-stock items until everything is ready, so we can ship your whole order together in one parcel.
- Shipping cost: Free on orders over $100 within Australia, otherwise $9.95 flat rate per order however many items you buy. Free shipping applies to Australian addresses only; delivery to New Zealand is $14.95 per order.
- Check your address: If an order goes to an incorrect address you gave us, or isn’t collected and Australia Post returns it to us, you’ll need to pay the postage to send it again.
Cancellations
Need to change or cancel an order? Contact us as soon as possible at contact@bookloop.com.au or through our contact page.
- Within 30 minutes: You can change or cancel your order for a full refund within 30 minutes of placing it.
- After 30 minutes: Your order is already being processed, so it can no longer be changed or cancelled. If we can accept a late cancellation, we may offer store credit instead of a refund.
- Items in transit: Once an item is on its way, either from our supplier to us or from us to you, it can’t be cancelled. If you no longer want it once it arrives, you can return it as a change of mind, with return postage at your cost. See Returns.
- Separate orders can’t be combined once they’ve been placed, and adding or swapping items can change the delivery estimate.
- Supplier delays: Occasionally a supplier is delayed, or their stock information turns out to be inaccurate. We’ll keep your order open for up to 60 days. If an item hasn’t shipped or isn’t on its way to us by then, we’ll cancel that item and refund it.
Faulty or damaged items are always covered. See Returns.
Returns
Damaged or incorrect items (within 30 days)
If an item arrives damaged or isn’t what you ordered, contact us within 30 days of delivery. We may ask for a photo, and if we need the item back we’ll send a prepaid return label, so it costs you nothing. You’ll receive a replacement or refund, as guaranteed under the Australian Consumer Law.
Change of mind (within 30 days)
We offer a refund or store credit for change of mind within 30 days of purchase when:
- you have your proof of purchase;
- the item is unused and in its original condition and packaging;
- it isn’t a sale item, special order, custom item or gift voucher.
You pay the postage to return change-of-mind items. Change-of-mind returns aren’t available for print-on-demand titles or bulk orders with special pricing.
Returned to sender
If an order is sent to an incorrect address you gave us, or isn’t collected and Australia Post returns it to us, you’ll need to pay the postage to send it again.