SYDNEY: Fashion importer and distributor Busby International has had its lunch and eaten it too.
The Alexandria-headquartered business has acquired the licence to sell and distribute Guess childrenswear across Australia and New Zealand.
Formerly represented by FJ Benjamin group, the new licensing deal means Busby now controls retail and wholesale operations for Guess womenswear, menswear, accessories and childrenswear in both markets.
Busby managing director Simon Nankervis said this would allow the company to maintain brand consistency across the board, having represented the label in Australia since 2002.
FJ Benjamin's licence expired at the end of 2009, giving Busby full control from January 2010.
"Acquiring the rights to Guess childrenswear enables us to effectively market all components of the brand in a cohesive marketing campaign. We are very excited about the opportunities childrenswear gives our company."
The line currently has 80 wholesale accounts across Australia - including department store David Jones - and is available through a Guess store in Melbourne's Crown Casino. Guess has a total of 21 concept stores and 11 specialty accessory sites across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Busby has also established 430 wholesale accounts across Australia and New Zealand for its accessory line, 85 accounts for its footwear range and is preparing to debut Guess menswear across Myer department stores from spring/summer 2009/10.
Established in 1981, Guess specialised in denim before expanding into new product categories and brands such as 'Guess by Marciano' and 'G by Guess'. It boasts over 1,113 retail stores worldwide.
Nankervis described Busby as a business that developed and distributed "affordable and aspirational" fashion brands including Guess, Aldo footwear and accessories, Baby Phat, Travelite and Delsey.