Brooks Brothers has begun its Australian rollout, with the opening of four menswear concession stores. The concessions, opened in David Jones’ Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth flagships, mark the start of the retailer’s expansion in the Australian market. It will open a fifth concession in David Jones’ Adelaide flagship in Rundle Mall once the centre’s refurbishment is completed. “We’re really excited. We’ve only just begun rolling out [concession] stores but we’re really p
leased with how it is going so far,” Mark Newman, CEO and MD of Australian owner, Oroton Group, told Inside Retail PREMIUM.
The US menswear icon will open three standalone stores in Australia from April.
The first will open at Sydney’s Chatswood Chase shopping centre, followed by a second store in May at Melbourne’s Emporium.
The flagship, to be located along Martin Pl in Sydney’s CBD, will open in June.
“The flagship in Martin Pl will have the full range, apart from childrenswear,” Newman said.
“We’re not going to have childrenswear at this point, but it will have both men’s and women’s clothing and will also have a full custom service tailor.”
Brooks Brothers’ womenswear concessions will open at David Jones in Sydney and Melbourne by April.
“We’ve got a reasonably decent rollout plan,” Newman said.
In August 2013, Oroton signed a 10 year joint venture agreement to bring Brooks Brothers to Australia, following the severing of Oroton’s partnership with Ralph Lauren, which made up around 45 per cent of the group’s sales.
At the time of the agreement Oroton said it would open up to eight local Brooks Brothers stores.
In October, Oroton confirmed to Inside Retail PREMIUM it had also secured a local licensing agreement with Gap Inc, taking the reigns from former licensee, Busby Holdings.
As part of the deal Oroton was given rights to develop sister brand, Banana Republic, in Australian with an option to also develop value retailer, Old Navy.
Banana Republic is expected to open in Australia by 2015.
