Web Briefs

Store closures
NATIONAL: Surf and skatewear brand Globe International is set to wind back its Australian retail operations. Poor international trading conditions have forced the company to close several underperforming stores throughout the country. The closures are part of a new cost-cutting initiative aimed at preparing for a further downturn in conditions over the next 12 months. The company has shut stores operating under its PSC Skateboarding arm, which it purchased in mid 2006. Globe International reported a $24.6 million loss in the 2008 financial year.

Parliament march
CANBERRA: Two of the textile, clothing and footwear sector's most influential bodies have teamed together in an attempt to influence government decision makers. The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) and the Technical Textiles & Nonwoven Association (TTNA) will head to Canberra later this month to showcase the TCF industry to government and the media. On September 22 the two groups will host an event, dubbed 'Forming a future', in Parliament House's Mural Hall, where they aim to provide the government with a "compelling case" to award further assistance to the TCF industry. TTNA said it hoped the move would coincide with the release of the TCF Review requested by Senator Kim Carr, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

DJs' Newcastle moves
NEWCASTLE: David Jones has agreed to be an anchor tenant in The GPT Group's proposed $500 million Newcastle development adjacent to the Hunter Street Mall. The proposed store, which will occupy around 12,000 square metres of space, is expected to open in 2012. The existing David Jones store will continue trading until early 2010 and then close. David Jones said the new store would deliver a 50 per cent increase on its current sales in the area.

O'Neil upgrade
NATIONAL: The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA's) Victorian state secretary Michele O'Neil has been appointed to the position of national secretary, following the resignation of Tony Woolgar. O'Neil is to hold both the TCFUA national secretary and Victorian state secretary positions, while Woolgar will continue to work for the union until the end of this year. The announcement comes at an important time for the union and industry as the Federal Government prepares its response to Professor Roy Green's TCF Review.

Canterbury can do
AUCKLAND: Sportswear retailer Canterbury of New Zealand has has inked a three-year licensing agreement with multi-national beer, wine and spirits company Diageo. The agreement will see Canterbury produce an 18-piece collection of off-field fashion for Diageo's Guinness brand. The collection, to be distributed in the UK, Ireland, Central Europe and US, will be available for the spring/summer 2009 season and would include rugby shirts, polo shirts, hooded tops and T-shirts. It would also include replica rugby shirts, base layer apparel and training tracksuits featuring variants of the Guinness Logo and the date 1759. Canterbury currently provides national rugby kits for Ireland, Australia, US, Japan and Scotland.