Andy Kino, who helped turn the family business of Glo-Marka – famous for introducing the reflective Sam Browne belt – has died after a long illness.
The funeral took place this morning, Friday, 8 May, at Holy Trinity Church, Ilfracombe.
Andy and wife Lorraine took over the business, founded in 1976 and originally called Design Markings, when Andy’s stepfather and company creator Donald Leishman died in 1991.
Donald had developed and patented a reflective Sam Brown belt which caused a stir when exhibited at the Earl’s Court show in 1978.
Supplementing the belt with a range of British-made and Devon-assembled Reflexite reflective belts and clothing, Andy and Lorraine helped build the distribution firm into a £150,000 operation. Lorraine will continue running the business – the removal of the website is coincidental and was outwith her control.
Full obituary in the June issue of BDN.