During the 1980’s Forbes magazine placed it in the category with top stores in Hong Kong for best buys; and Knight Ridder newspapers gave it top marks and recommended it as a “must” in tourist shopping in The Bahamas. Now after 75 years of growth, John Bull is truly the Shopping Mecca of the Caribbean.

Origin of the Name

Why the name John Bull? It was the name of a character in British satire, “Law Is a Bottomless Pit”, written in 1712. John Bull represented a stout Englishman wearing a top hat, waistcoat, knickers and high boots. At that time, England was known for its famous Woodbine cigarettes and Briar pipes.

A Successful Business

The year 1929 was a time of depression when the Stock Market fell and the Bahamas experienced its worst hurricane ever, certainly not a time to start a business. Nevertheless, it was during this time that Sir Asa Pritchard opened an Old English Tobacco House – “John Bull”. John Bull Tobacconist prospered, catering to local residents and tourists until World War II when the Tourism Industry diminished and the armed forces became Nassau’s guests. The Bahamas was proud to have His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor and His Dutchess in Government House.

John Bull Ltd. remained a family business with Sir Asa Pritchard at its realm until the early 90’s. Sir Asa’s children went to school in Canada but soon returned with their families in the latter part of the 1940’s and early 1950’s. Two of his children, Emmet Pritchard, Vice president, Asa H. Pritchard Holdings, Ltd., and John Bull Ltd., and Macushla Hazlewood, Vice President of John Bull, are both active members in the business. Their sons, Frederick Hazlewood, President John Bull Ltd. along with Hugh and Robert Pritchard, treasurer and secretary (respectively) Asa H. Pritchard Holdings, Ltd. also play a significant role in the family’s success story. Sir Asa Pritchard passed away in 1990 at the age of 98. The Queen knighted him in 1965 for his services to the Bahamian people.

Business Expansion

John Bull continued as a tobacco shop but Frank Hazlewood, the late husband of Macushla Hazlewood, soon developed a stationery department. This stationary department evolved into the foremost Business Centre in The Bahamas. In 1955, watches, toys and gifts were added after an extensive European shopping trip. It was then that the Rolex Agency was acquired and since then John Bull has been their exclusive representative. Other watches represented in that Division included Concord, Piaget, Raymond Weil, Gucci, Fendi, Movado, Jean Lassale, Cartier, Yves Saint Laurent and Swatch. In the early 1960’s jewellery became a very important part of John Bull’s business. During this time the Camera Division was also launched at John Bull. The division featured photographic equipment by Fuji, Nikon, Minolta, Vivitar, Olympus and Pentax. The toy and tobacco departments were slowly phased out. The 1970’s through 1980’s brought further expansion in the company with the addition of other major watch and jewellery designers. Designer Boutiques and a La Parfumerie Division were also added.

The Future

Now in the third generation of family ownership, John Bull is truly the Shopping Paradise of the Islands. After seventy-one years of growth, John Bull’s flagship store located 284 Bay Street features six fabulous Departments including Leather, Perfume & Cosmetics, Tobacco, Jewellery, Watches and Cameras. John Bull’s Bay Street location also houses Boutiques such as David Yurman, Cartier and Tiffany and Co. Other world-renowned designer products include Mikimoto, Lagos, Bvlgari, Hublot, Chanel, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Lancome, Calvin Klein, Dooney & Bourke, Moschino, Kate Spade, Katherine Baumann and Paloma Picasso. And of course John Bull is the Official Rolex Retailer in the Bahamas.