SYDNEY: Camilla Franks has signed a five year lease for a new store in Paddington on the back of two years of success in neighbouring Woollahra.
The kaftan designer is scheduled to close her Woollahra boutique on August 11 and open the new Paddington store on the same day. At 85 square-metres, the new site is more than double the size of the current Woollahra store.
“The motivation of the move is, number one, I needed more space. My collections keep growing each year. Higher foot traffic was the other reason. Across the road from Country Road and near Sloanes Cafe there is definitely more hubbub,” Franks said.
She was not fazed by the demands associated with longer term leases.
“I love taking a risk. We've proved that it works in Woollahra so it can only really improve somewhere with more foot traffic and being able to exhibit larger collections because there's more square metres,” Franks said.
“There should be at least a 30 per cent increase in sales.”
The new boutique is being designed by Franks' architect father and is likely to feature oversized lampshades and mannequins hanging from the ceiling.
“I'm able to play a little bit more,” Franks said of the larger space.
The Paddington opening will be marketed via an email campaign and an official store launch.
For details on Franks' latest international distribution deals and additional store plans, pick up a copy of the August 13 edition of Ragtrader magazine.