Psyche facts

Oct 23 2007 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

Psyche bills itself as the lifestyle destination in the North-east. The department store offers everything from designer label clothes and tailoring for men, women and children to art, homewares and even a 4D baby scanning unit.

The store occupies the former Uptons building on Middlesbrough’s Linthorpe Road - it replaced two Psyche boutiques on Linthorpe Road.

Steve Cochrane’s first store, Sliced Tomatoes, opened in Redcar in 1982.

In 1986 the first Psyche store opened, going on to expanding to two shops on Linthorpe Road, for men’s and women’s fashions.

In 1995 Psyche was named Designer Retailer of the Year - it was one of the first stores in the country to stock the likes of Gucci and Prada alongside numerous smaller and emerging new designers.

At the 1998 Tees Valley Business Awards Psyche won the New Product trophy and Steve was named Business Executive of the Year.

In September 2002 Steve Cochrane completes a deal to buy Middlesbrough’s Uptons store.

In April 2003 a swish oyster and champagne party launches the new Psyche.

In 2004, the store won the Drapers magazine Independent Retailer of the year for Britain and Ireland award.

2005 saw Psyche named Best Fashion Retailer in the North East by FHM Magazine, going on to win their Retailer of the Year for the UK.

The store was the subject of a BBC TV documentary, aired on BBC3, called The Secret Life of the Shop.