Kathmandu heads for the top
The outdoor apparel and equipment specialist has revealed an aggressive retail expansion strategy that will see stores across Australia, New Zealand and the UK burgeon from 50 to 80 over the next three years, bringing the total tally of Aussie stores to 50.
According to Kathmandu general marketing manager Annemarie Mulder, the brand had been ?growing strongly and steadily? in recent years, but growth was set to accelerate under new shareholders Goldman Sachs JB Were and Quadrant, which acquired the company last April.
Kathmandu is currently looking at viable store sites for the expansion strategy, with recent openings at NSW shopping centres Waringah Mall, Castle Towers and new Auckland retail development Silvia Park.
A fresh store format had been created and would be rolled out as new outlets opened, she added.
?The new look stores will be very airy, with high levels of natural light and white walls replacing the wood finishes of the older stores. Stores will also feature stronger imagery and installations such as ?base camp? exhibits to entice the holiday camping market.?
Kathmandu had also implemented PRONTO-Xi enterprise resource planning software throughout its store network to support retail growth strategy and interface with the 100,000 strong Summit Club loyalty program, she said.
The software was ?the best fit? to overhaul the company?s point of sale and back office retail operations, with real-time POS and inventory transaction processing promising to significantly improve Kathmandu?s customer service and cost management capabilities, she said.
With long term expansion in the UK retail sector a strong possibility, Kathmandu had decisive aims closer to home.
"Our objective is to be one of the key ?outdoor? retailers in Australia going forward. There are other companies in Australia that currently have more stores than we do, but we have a very strong offer and an outstanding brand presence in the market; and of course we are very strong in New Zealand."