Ruby rings in changes

NEW ZEALAND: The new owners of leisurewear label Ruby and eveningwear brand Madame Hawke have continued ringing in the changes, appointing a general manager from the United Kingdom to oversee the expansion of the brands.

The move, which follows the purchase of the brands by Vere and Chris Sharma earlier this year, has resulted in Leanne Pritchard leaving her London home for the past 13 years to take up residence at the company's headquarters in Auckland.

The move follows the opening of the third Ruby store in Christchurch's High Street and the launch of its e-commerce website late last year.

Pritchard said her appointment was accompanied by the appointment of a new public relations firm to support the company's future marketing activities - in particular its drive to ramp up its domestic stockist base.

Currently the two brands - which launched in 1999 and 2005 respectively - boast more than 30 wholesale accounts across New Zealand including Auckland's Made, Napier's 3Sixty and Queenstown's Quest QT.