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Sportsgirl: Colleen Callander, CEO

Colleen Callander recalls the last twelve months as a pivotal turning point for the fast fashion retailer. In addition to securing a direct sourcing model to ensure greater speed to market, Sportsgirl also launched a limited capsule range SG Limited to cater for dressier, trend-driven looks.

“Building on our achievements in 2015, which included the refurbishment of 15 stores, we are looking to continue our refurbishment plans for existing sites while also focusing on a new store opening roll out in collaboration with our design agency HMKM.”

Sportsgirl will also continue to work with London-based creative agency Portas to deliver innovative brand strategies, including in-store activations and interactive customer experiences.

“Digital retail will continue to evolve, providing great opportunities for capturing new markets and customers across all touchpoints. We recently launched our responsive website and will continue to engage with new technology in this ever-changing space.”

And the biggest challenge?

“One of the biggest challenges has been the Australian dollar and its fluctuation. In 2016, we will be focused on delivering our girl great fashion at the right price and quality while continuing to build our speed to market.”

Rebel: Erica Berchtold, MD (Super Retail Group)

A fun fact for 2015: activewear chain Rebel opened its 90th store in its 30th year.

This included the launch of a new “accelerate” concept in Westfield Bondi Junction, featuring virtual technology and in-store services such as bra-fittings and podiatry.

“We also shifted our online order fulfilment from stores into our DC and we are getting massive growth on the back of that. Rebel achieved LFL sales of 7% in the 2015 financial year.”

As Super Retail Group MD, Erica Berchtold plans to create synergies with complementary brands in its portfolio over 2016.

“This year we will be rebranding Workout World and relaunching it into Rebel, as well as standalone stores, as more of a holistic fitness and well-being offering and not just fitness equipment.”

Last year, Rebel also reached a loyalty milestone with two million members signed on to Rebel Active.

Despite noting the increasing trend of athleisure in the domestic market, Berchtold is still cautious about potential challenges in Australia: “The consumer’s appetite to spend with cost of living increases.”

Myer: Richard Umbers, CEO

Richard Umbers believes 2015 was ‘the year of change’ for the department store.

Since launching its New Myer strategy last September the company has its sights set firmly on transforming its omnichannel offering.

“We have completed the largest brand overhaul in our recent history, brought in some fantastic senior talent in omni-channel, merchandising and customer service, and begun to reset the business for sustainable growth.”

In the year ahead Myer is set to roll out Topshop Topman concessions in 20 stores, hundreds of new shop-in-shops and will focus on enhancing customer experience in its flagships.

Umbers believes the launch of international giants into the Australian market has awoken the company to reinvigorate its offering.

“The arrival of these international specialty retailers creates significant consumer interest as they compete for locations in CBDs and key shopping centres. We are responding to international entrants by playing to our strengths, which include the theatre of the department store experiences and the best mix of wanted brands under one roof.”

The Iconic: Patrick Schmidt, CEO

The Iconic built the most downloaded fashion app in Australia in 2015.

This year Patrick Schmidt believes the company will maintain its position at the top of the charts with an in-house engineering team devoted to developing the app further.

“Very few companies have great apps and that is true even for the big retailers. If you want to know what sets us apart from other apps – I think we’ve seen time and time again that people want to be inspired. That’s why we have built what we call ‘the daily’. It’s almost like your news feed on Facebook or Instagram. We essentially offer you a product which is new, which is relevant, which is trending and you can just browse through it – you can see the product here, you can add it to the bag right away or you go to something else."

Schmidt also says that this year the brand will continue to build on its high fashion offering which last year saw the addition of coveted labels such as Alice McCall, Oroton and Bec & Bridge.

“We’re constantly chipping away because ultimately we have 700 brands but there are thousands of brands out there. We want to have the best labels, the best brands, the best products, the best ranges available on The Iconic."

Schmidt discloses that the company is in talks with a number of brands in the pipeline but cannot reveal any names.

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