Australian fashion group Brand Collective – which manages the likes of Reebok, Elka Collective and Champion in Australia under license or owned – has just acquired Glue Store, the DOM and Running Bare.
Glue Store was, up to recently, owned by Accent Group – the fashion and footwear conglomerate behind The Athlete’s Foot, Hoka and Nude Lucy. Accent confirmed it was winding down Glue Store, citing underperformance.
The DOM was co-founded and owned by Justin and Hilton Seskin in 2020 and launched it in 20212, while Running Bare was founded in 1983 by husband and wife Brian and Corin Powell.
According to Brand Collective, the acquisitions of Glue Store and the DOM are strategic moves that expand upon the company's digital capability and establishes a new multi-brand marketplace division within the Group.
Brand Collective intends to build on Glue Store’s position with a renewed focus on updated brand assortment, updated digital experience and new stores planned as part of the relaunch.
Meanwhile, the DOM adds an established digital marketplace platform to the Group. Brand Collective is aiming to leverage its existing brand portfolio – Reebok, Julius Marlow, Superdry, Slazenger, Lonsdale and others – as well as supplier relationships to build the DOm into a broader platform that sells fashion, footwear and lifestyle “at great prices”.
As for Running Bare, Brand Collective will retain the brand’s identity while utilising the Group’s broader retail, e-commerce, wholesale, marketing and operational capabilities.
Brand Collective CEO David Thomas said the three acquisitions collectively demonstrate the Group's ongoing ability to create new opportunities.
"These acquisitions demonstrate Brand Collective's ongoing evolution and innovation as a business,” Thomas said. “Brand Collective has considerable experience in taking brands to new levels of success, and we see enormous potential across all three.”
Further details on the strategy for Glue Store, the DOM and Running Bare will be announced in the coming months.