SYDNEY: Colette Accessories is forging ahead with a national retail rollout despite an ongoing trademark dispute with Australian designer Collette Dinnigan.
The Colette Accessories brand, established in April 2010 by the founder of Diva jewellery chain, Colette Hayman, has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Dinnigan since 2010 after the designer sued over the use of the name “Colette Accessories”, claiming it would confuse customers and damage her brand.
The case is ongoing, with Hayman allegedly refusing to change the brand name and logo and filing a cross-claim against Dinnigan over the use of four trademarks containing the word “Collette”.
Undeterred, Hayman has pushed ahead with the expansion of Colette Accessories and has revealed the brand is in the midst of an aggressive retail rollout, with plans to expand into international markets such as the UK and Asia.
“We now have 40 stores with another five planned before the end of 2011, and the goal is to have 120 stores across NZ and Australia eventually,” Hayman said. “In an effort to accelerate the rollout and to develop the concept for the overseas expansion, we expect to begin franchising 40 of these stores starting in early 2012 and we also expect to enter the UK and a number of Asian markets in 2012.” Hayman said that the label, which also launched a dedicated e-store last month, will also introduce a fresh store concept via the new outlets, “to offer a more individual shopping experience and look less like a chain store”.
“The stores, which average 85m2, have little resemblance to our previous chain. We have moved away from being very white and bright into moodier lighting, dark wallpaper with silvery gold prints, light tiled floors, black fittings with pendant lighting,” she said.
The label’s product range, which currently includes bags, wallets, jewellery and belts, is also set for a revamp, and will soon be augmented via a set of new categories such as perfume, make-up, scarves, sunglasses.
“We plan to keep adding categories to the offer and become the leading fashion handbag and fashion accessory retailer in the country,” Hayman said. “Opening a new retail business is challenging at any time but if you have the right concept, the right brand, people, systems, product, price, in store experience and store design, it will work. We’ve had a great start and the business is growing each month.” Daniela Aroche
