Despite the challenges that COVID-19 presents, Australian lingerie label Big Girls Don't Cry Anymore has opened its expanded premises in Brisbane.
Opening the new site on April 01, the business has doubled in size from 520 square metres to 1100 square metres.
The new location features; a coffee shop; pop up spaces for complementary businesses to launch and showcase their products; customer showroom and fitting rooms; a packing and distribution centre; and, a full size live television streaming studio for the brand's popular online show, Big Girls TV.
The business is also set to recruit more staff members over the next 12 months, building on its existing 30-strong team.
Big Girls founder Karen Edbrooke said that COVID-19 only heightened the importance for her business to continue trading.
"Our expansion plans have been in place for a while.
"As a team, in light of the need for women to continue to access lingerie and swimwear, we realised that our online services and offerings were now more important than ever in this heightened time of worry, panic buying and retail sector closure.
"I am determined to make sure that we as a business continue to support the community during this difficult epidemic and also continue to grow and evolve as a much-needed retailer.
"We are one of the few businesses undertaking this type of activity at the moment, but as an online business we have to look forward and continue to respond to market conditions and opportunities," she said.
Edbrooke added that the business had responded to the market conditions and had launched a number of initiatives to help both customers and front line health workers.
"Our café will be open for takeaways from Friday April 03 and we will be providing free coffee to health workers – those at the front line who are dealing with this awful virus.
"While our online sales are increasing, we have also opened a drive-through click and collect facility so our locally based customers can collect items in person without having to get out of their cars.
"We now also have nine virtual fitting rooms open for extended hours to help women access bra fittings over the internet.
"My staff are providing virtual fitting services full time to help women across the country access the bras they need while working or isolating at home.
"We are also offering gift vouchers to the value of $30 to essential workers across the country to assist them to access bras with plenty of support while they are working long hours," she said.