E-Briefs

30 July 2010

GRANT SUCCESS
SYDNEY: Young womenswear label Hussy (www.hussy.com.au) is set to overhaul its e-commerce operations after receiving $42,500 in grant money from the federal government. The Surry Hills-headquartered label, which currently operates six bricks-and-mortar stores and has over 140 stockists, was among the 63 successful applicants in the latest round of the TCF Small Business Program. While Hussy has an existing online sales function, all payments are currently diverted and processed through international website PayPal. The brand will use the grant money to upgrade to a new e-commerce platform.

IP HELP FROM APEC
NATIONAL: The Australian government has teamed up with others in the APEC region to create a new intellectual property (IP) resource for small business. The free online tool, Intellectual Property Explorer (www.intellectualpropertyexplorer.com), explains IP concepts in plain English. The website helps small operators, including those in fashion, to identify and analyse different forms of IP within their business, including copyright, patents, trade marks and designs. The site also gives practical advice on how to avoid commercial risks that can result in costly legal proceedings.

WITTNER REVIVES WEB
MELBOURNE: Family-owned shoe retailer Wittner is overhauling its website. Marketing manager Debra Wittner was tight-lipped about the changes but the company did confirm the site will be operational by the end of July. In addition to its online store, Wittner operates approximately 50 shoe stores across mainland Australia, with plans to roll out an additional six stores by the close of 2010.

ROSY BEGINNINGS
SYDNEY: Luxury womenswear label Mr Rose has launched a new e-commerce site. The brand, which operates a boutique in Sydney’s Paddington, has made its tailored separates available for purchase online. Other features include glossy seasonal look books; a ‘Rose Prose’ blog; and ‘Mr Rose Fab Finds’, a monthly feature where founder Sophie Toohey spotlights top accessories from around the world. The website is at www.mrrose.com.au.