Womenswear label Metalicus has followed in the footsteps of Sass & Bide, shifting its concession business from David Jones to rival department store Myer.
PAS Group chief executive Eric Morris said he made his decision after Myer presented the label with an offer they couldn't refuse.
“Myer offered us key retail concession sites in all of their major doors – including a flagship Bourke Street store in Melbourne – so we have made the decision to move over into the Myer business,” he said.
David Jones, which began its relationship with Metalicus since 2009, will remain a Metalicus wholesale partner. However, all 13 Metalicus stores are now trading within Myer and are located at Myer Melbourne, Chadstone, Doncaster, and Highpoint in Victoria; Sydney City, Bondi, Chatswood and Miranda in New South Wales; Pacific Fair, Brisbane City and Carindale in Queensland; and Myer stores in Adelaide and Perth.
The move marks the start of a revolutionary period for Metalicus. The brand recently celebrated the opening of its 21st store in Booragoon, Western Australia, and plans to open three more stand-alone stores across the country in the coming months.
“We are in the process of overhauling our stand-alone Metalicus stores, a redesign our customers will see come to life over the next 12 months – as it is unique, distinctive and confident – everything our brand epitomizes. We believe the move to Myer gives us the ability to grow our concession business in line with our national retail store strategy,” Morris said.
The split with Metalicus is the most recent in a string of losses for David Jones, who also lost the business of womenswear and menswear designer Arthur Galan and Australian fashion label Simona to Myer this year.
As reported on Ragtrader.com.au Sass & Bide also sided with Myer in February this year, marking the end of a 10-year supply arrangement with David Jones.