NEWS Briefs
Winners announced
SYDNEY: Accessories retailer Oroton has dominated proceedings at Birkenhead Point's 2008 Retailer Awards for excellence. The Sydney-headquartered company took out both the retailer of the year and fashion accessories retailer of the year categories. Recognising the achievements and performance of Birkenhead Point retailers, stores are judged on annual sales achievements, store appearance, merchandising, customer service and marketing performance. Other winners included Alannah Hill (best fashion retailer), Nine West (best footwear) and Orogniale Jewellery (excellence in customer service).
Teamed up
NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand brands Barkers Men's Clothing and Little Brother have paired with Barkers announcing it will be the exclusive distributor of Little Brother across its 25 stores nationwide and online. Barkers, which has expanded from 17 to 25 stores in the past two years, said the agreement fitted well with its strategy to define men's fashion in New Zealand. The agreement marks the first time Little Brother, operated by Murray Crane, has opened up the scale of its nationwide distribution. The first collection will be available in store in April 2009. Barkers has also stated it intends opening a store in Auckland's High Street later this year.
Double rejection
NATIONAL: The Federal Court has rejected appeals by both Prouds Jewellers and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over a decision made in February last year. On February 15, Justice Moore found that some "Was/Now" advertising published by Prouds in two 2006 catalogues was misleading and in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The ACCC appealed some aspects of the decision and Prouds cross-appealed in relation to the findings that its catalogue advertising was misleading and deceptive. The Full Federal Court rejected both appeals in a hearing last week (January 08).
Clarification
NATIONAL: An article that appeared in Ragtrader November 28, 2008 edition referenced an Australasian Legal Information Institute document which offered details of a court appearance by high street chain Review after it was awarded a cash sum after successfully arguing designer Charlie Brown had passed off some of its designs as her own. The Discovery Group wishes it to be known the Review action was against Innovative Lifestyles PTY Limited - part of the same umbrella group as the Charlie Brown label - and not the designer herself.