Where is Ksubi located?
Shop 4033, Level 4, Westfield Pitt Street.
How long has the store been operating there?
Eight months.
What does your store offer?
Unisex clothing across denim and fashion, eyewear, footwear and accessories.
What do you think attracts customers to the complex?
It’s the first time we (Australia) has had a shopping mall that feels like it’s an international shopping destination.
Is there a lot of competition for retailers, being such a busy complex with so many shops?
Yes, of course we are all competing for the same dollars, but our store and label design an aesthetic that gives us standout appeal and a real point of difference.
How have the stores changed around you since opening?
Well it’s slowly all opening up as many shops were still being built when we opened. Everyone is getting smarter about the type of customer they attract in there.
What customers do you attract/who is your clientele?
Whether they are locals, tourists or historically loyal customers they are all lovers of popular culture and love our denim and the sense of humour and irony that resonates from our store.
What are the positives and the negatives of the complex?
We are in good company with the selection of retail surrounding us; it’s unprecedented. I still don’t believe everyone in NSW and internationally realises what is on offer at Westfield Sydney.
Has the presence of international retailers prompted a decrease in the demand for smaller stores?
I’m sure everyone is wary of competing against the aggressive and experienced retail models that are competing against us.
You also operate a store in the shopping strip of Paddington - how does trade differ between operating on a boutique shopping street and a larger shopping complex such as Westfield Sydney?
It’s a different experience. There’s more of a chain store mentality in the mall, even though a lot of our store is handmade. The boutique store is more about hanging out in the store, especially with the Ksubi Kustom atelier space out the back.