IF YOU are a man in Glasgow, there's a very good chance at least one suit in your wardrobe is from Slater Menswear.

The family firm, based in Howard Street, is an institution, the place where so many young men were taken by their dad for their first suit.

And now current boss Paul Slater is hoping the public will give him the perfect reason to put on his dinner suit and black tie.

For Slater is in the running for the Evening Times' Favourite Business at the Glasgow Business Awards.

Paul, the third generation of Slaters involved with the business, said: "It was a total surprise to hear we were nominated.

"It is an award well known to anyone who runs a business in Glasgow so we're delighted to be in the running.

"My father would have been delighted. He was raised in the Gorbals and this has always been a Glasgow business, so it is great."

The Slater story begins back at the turn of the last century.

Paul's grandfather, who was from Latvia, set up the business, and as the years passed the rest of the family - Paul's dad Ralph, his uncles, and aunt - all joined the firm, which manufactured suits from its base in Cathedral Street.

However, a fire destroyed the factory, and in 1973, Paul's father decided to branch off and start selling suits at a 3000sq ft space on Howard Street.

Today, at 40,000 sq ft, the Howard Street branch is in the Guinness Book of Records.

However, it is no longer just a Glasgow concern, with stores across the UK, including a women's line.

But the core value of the business - customer service - has not changed.

Paul said: "By the late 1970s we saw a lot of our competitors close or change, moving towards self-service, but we have always stuck with the old way of doing things, of having a salesperson who can measure you up, who will take the time to talk to you and find out what you want.

"That is why it is funny to see the return of that style of service, even if it is called personal shopping these day.

"We are delighted to have been nominated, and if we are chosen by the public as their favourite business we would be very proud."

The Evening Times Favourite Business Award is a unique category as the winner is decided by you - Evening Times readers.

The names of the other firms in the running are in the box, left.

We want you to tell us who deserves to win. Just fill in the form or send an e-mail to: awards@eveningtimes.co.uk The Glasgow Business Awards are organised by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Bank of Scotland Corporate.

The gala final will be held on October 23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

For more info, see the website: www.glasgowbusinessawards.org