Outdoorwear brand Kathmandu is set to open a new next-generation concept store on Little Collins Street this week, adding to three others in the Melbourne CBD already.
The new store is just moments away from the site of its very first Melbourne store, which opened in 1987.
The brand already operates stores in Docklands, the Melbourne Emporium and another at the Kathmandu Galleria.
The Little Collins Street store builds on the brand’s global-first concept store in Christchurch, which opened in October last year, followed by Chatswood, NSW in November. It will serve as a flagship expression of its evolving retail model, which is digital-first and sustainability-led.
Kathmandu CEO Megan Welch said Melbourne has always played a special role in the New Zealand-born brand’s story.
“Opening our next-gen flagship on Little Collins Street feels like a natural evolution, honouring our journey, while bringing our future retail vision to life in a city that continues to shape how Australians live adventure and explore,” Welch said.
The store will officially open on Friday, May 8 at 10am, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Welch. This will be followed by an opening weekend of incentives, including $100 off for the first 100 customers and #OutThe on opening day.
Other giveaways include a chance for all Kathmandu Out The Reward members who purchase over the opening weekend to go into the draw to win a $1,000 Kathmandu gift card, and customers can also expect gifting across the weekend, including caps, beanies and water bottles.
The new store opening comes amid a major turnaround for the brand’s parent company, KMD Brands, with Kathmandu leading the boom on the sales front. Kathmandu’s direct-to-consumer same-store sales (including online) lifted by 11.1 per cent in the six weeks to March 15 this year.
The retailer has also improved its gross margin by around 50 basis points.
Kathmandu’s recent sales follow a 12.3 per cent lift in underlying sales in the first half of FY26 to NZ$176.1 million. This joins an 81.6 per cent improvement in underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to negative NZ$2.4 million, with its EBIT losses slashed by half to negative NZ$10.2 million, up from a negative NZ$22 million in the first half of FY25.