THE PAUL PUNCHER EXPERIENCE
At Paul Puncher, we take pride in providing a tailored experience to each customer, helping each man build a wardrobe to reflect his personality and complement his confidence.
From the moment you enter our store, the Paul Puncher experience begins. Our knowledgeable clothiers are ready to get to know you, assist you with fabrics, style selection and precise measurements to ensure your personal style is reflected with comfort and ease.
Services
Custom Suits
Paul Puncher offers next-level customization with complete tailoring services. Create a custom look that is truly your own in designer menswear.
Inspring Collections
Paul Puncher Menswear and Paul Puncher Casual Collections provide you with a high standard of fine clothing and designer menswear for any occasion.
THE STORE
An Experience Like No Other.
Like our customers, our store is stylish, dynamic and memorable. The Paul Puncher showroom is located in a magnificently restored old train station complex at Regina and Erb Street in Uptown Waterloo.
Our store offers convenient parking, a timeless setting, modern menswear and a quality experience.
Our rich history began back in 1919 at Washburn’s Menswear in downtown Kitchener. Our unique Uptown Waterloo site has been home to our collections and on-site tailor shop since 1997, providing an interesting blend of history and progression. The high ceilings, natural light and warm wood tones of the station, create an undeniably captivating combination of rich heritage and world class designer menswear.
“Our stores are ‘of fashion’ rather than being caught ‘in fashion’ in the moment”
The actual train station setting showcases three of the world’s foremost designer menswear collections: Emporio Armani, Pal Zileri and Hugo Boss. Here, customers will find everything they need to meet their discriminating tastes.
The adjacent space, nestled as a continuation to the train station, offers a more relaxed approach to menswear. Inside this modern setting, contemporary collections of sports and casual wear project the same quality and image that has become synonymous with the Puncher name.
MEET YOUR CLOTHIERS
For our team, customer service isn’t a look, it’s the way we do things.
Scott Puncher
QUESTION: As a second generation owner, you must be proud of the work you do, what you’ve accomplished, and the tradition you’re upholding.
Well, I think my father was very idealistic and had a commitment to good quality product, great service, great environment. That was how he founded this company. That’s how I grew up when I was working part-time – under that indoctrination. It’s the only thing I’ve known and what I’m happy to follow.
QUESTION: What it is like to be a kid in this environment and who you might have seen walk through the door?
Well, when I was very young, 13-14-15 years old, I worked part time at the store cleaning and I used to watch my father as he waited on his clients. They were all upper-management people, business owners. At that time, Schneider’s was a very big company in town. He dealt with a lot of the CFO’s and CEO’s of companies like that. I got to see a lot of high profile, local, successful business people because that’s type of people attracted to our type of product and service.
QUESTION: How did that affect you personally do you think?
It motivates me to keep the level of the company’s product and service very, very high. Because that is the only way you can maintain your business with people who are that successful. Those type of people are very demanding and should be.
QUESTION: You’ve been in this business for a while, what do you think are some of the benefits of owning a men’s clothing store, particularly in Waterloo?
This is a very progressive, affluent community and a very diverse community. It’s a fun community to work in. You meet a diverse group of people from the tech sector, the insurance sector, the educational sector. There is a very unique variety of businesses here, which makes our job a lot more interesting. Every minute the door opens, you don’t know who you’re going to see but they are usually interesting.
QUESTION: Where do you see the store going in the future?
I see us doing a lot of the same things we are doing now. We will continue to find new niche lines – better products for our clients. Every year, we will do something to freshen the appearance of the store. For example, right now, we are adding a new piece of artwork to the new addition because we have a blank wall. When our clients walk in, we want them to see some new things, along with the things they are used to. We will always keep the main lines but add new things to keep it exciting. But, the philosophy will remain the same, based on our founding traditions of quality products and exceptional service – that is Paul Puncher.
MATTHEW STRONGMAN
QUESTION: How did you come to Paul Puncher?
I discovered at a pretty early age what I wanted to do in my life. I was always aware of Paul Puncher. I had many years in retail in a step down from this from a quality perspective. I always knew the great reputation Paul Puncher had and thought, well, if I’m going to be in this life-long, then I want to be selling at this level, the type of product that we have here.
QUESTION: Now that you are a key member of the team, what do you bring to the atmosphere?
I build the relationship. I bring a passion to the store. I’ve always been very passionate about clothes. I knew from a young age that’s what I wanted to do.
QUESTION: How should people feel leaving the store?
I want them to feel good about their purchase. I want them to feel good about themselves, how they feel in the clothing. And I hope they leave saying “that was a great experience”. It’s not just about coming in to buy a shirt or tie, it’s about the whole experience – we want to build on relationships. We want to see you again.
QUESTION: Where do you yourself look for men’s fashion?
I get it from a lot of different places. I love magazines. But, we often get the fashions from when we go to buy – we’re always about a year out so when we buy, we’re seeing where our designers are taking us next. I’m also always surfing, seeing what the designers are showing us.
QUESTION: Why do you think the Paul Puncher tradition still thrives in this community today? I think it’s our service, from our level of taste and ability to select the right things, to the fit – we have very talented tailors. Paul Puncher has been around for a long time but I think we’ve kept up the tradition of bringing exclusive products and exceptional service to our region – and we look forward to continuing that for years to come.
Our History
For our team, customer service isn’t a look, it’s the way we do things.
CHRONOLOGY
1919
Washburn’s Menswear established in downtown Kitchener
1962
Paul Puncher joins Washburn’s as sales associate
1975
Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier established through purchase of Washburn business
198
Scott Puncher joins Paul Puncher as sales associate
1993
Scott Puncher becomes partner in Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier
1996
Paul Puncher negotiates agreement with City of Waterloo for the re-establishment of Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier in the historic train station on Regina Street in Uptown Waterloo
1997
Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier opened for business on May 1st
1998
Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier leased Coach House for future endeavour
1999
Puncher Casual opened for business in Coach House
2001
1st Annual Puncher Tent Sale
2002
Matthew Strongman joins Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier as sales associate
2007
Scott Puncher purchases Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier
2009
Matthew Strongman becomes partner in Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier
2010
Paul Puncher Men’s Clothier purchases Train Station from City of Waterloo