The developments follow successful sales of the Man and Woman range, which launched in late 2009.
The collection for spring/summer 2011/12, the largest to date, will include a greater variety of men's workwear, such as suits, shoes, ties and business shirts, and a 26-piece women's collection, including workwear, such as pencil skirts, business shirts, blouses, suit dresses and jackets.
The new collection will also feature a selection of lingerie, women’s accessories, underwear, and outerwear, as well as the original men’s suit from spring/summer 2010/11 range, reworked in new shades and a slimmer cut.
All garments are linked to a nautical theme, with all product retailing for under $100. Key fabrics include cotton, ponti-roma, polyester crepe and polyester jersey. Pina Pirrello Sillaro, brand manager for Man and Woman by Peter Morrissey at JUPI Corp said the collection will drop into Big W stores strategically over a fourth month period.
“Workwear for men and women drops into stores in mid-July with stock replenished every two weeks from then. This will be in time for Big W’s summer season launch on August 4,” she said.
“The causal wear will continually drop in August, September and October, with the ties available in time for Father's Day, ahead of racing season and school formals, and the women's range of singlets, day dresses and shorts to drop in September in time for summer holidays. Women's evening dresses will drop in October ahead of the celebration period towards the end of the year.”
Big W is also increasing its commitment to the label with plans to ramp up branding for the Morrissey range in-store. This will include a designated space on the Big W floor and increased wall signage to attract consumers and increase awareness that Morrissey Man and Woman is a permanent part of the Big W stable.
“The designated areas were recently implemented in Chullora and Rouse Hill Big W stores and the model deemed successful in providing customers with brand recognition, so by August 4 the areas will be implemented in all 166 Big W stores,” Sillaro said.
“Big W will also implement backing boards in all stores. The billboards will feature the logo and Peter Morrissey which stand above the shelves so when customers walk into the store, they can instantly recognise the area and are enticed and attracted to the space.”
Big W is also moving to add the label to its website ahead of the summer season launch on 4 August and is currently in the process of implementing a social media campaign with Facebook and Twitter. The new collection, launching from next month, will be included in weekly catalogues and will also feature in a Big W television campaign for the first time, to be screened later in the year.
Daniela Aroche