ACCC warns of fines for price fixing

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has confirmed it will launch an investigation into clothing importers who are reaching agreements with overseas suppliers to stop selling their products to Australians on websites or instructing them to lift their web prices.
As reported by The Age newspaper today, the competition watchdog’s chairman Rod Sims has acknowl...

The Iconic on expansion drive

Australian fashion and footwear e-tailer The Iconic is on a promotion drive following rapid growth since its appointment late last year. After launching last October The Iconic has grown rapidly in terms of product range and revenues. The business is run by five young entrepreneurs, and backed by European investment company Rocket Internet, which also finances other well-...

Billabong founder asked CEO to jump

Billabong founder and major shareholder Gordon Merchant has publicly backed, for the first time, the appointment of Launa Inman as the new chief executive of the struggling surfwear group. Merchant told Fairfax that Inman was ‘‘exactly what they need’’. Merchant also revealed that he told 20-year veteran and former Billabong boss Derek O’Neill that he would need to resign....

Choice calls ACCC inquiry into apparel 'price fixing'

Australian consumer group Choice is calling for Australia's competition watchdog to conduct an inquiry into local apparel distributors who are preventing overseas suppliers from selling their products to Australian consumers on international websites or instructing them to increase their web prices. Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just yesterday urged the Australian Competition...

PacBrands sale off the cards

Listed apparel and homewares group Pacific Brands has revealed to the Australian Stocke Exchange that talks for a private equity buyout have collapsed. The company behind Bonds underwear, Holeproof socks and Berlei bras revealed in January it was considering an unsolicited takeover approach from US private equity group KKR and was holding preliminary discussions. The foll...

The cut-through champion

Melbourne based cutting machine manufacturer Pathfinder is not only defying preconceptions of what’s possible onshore; it’s encouraging local fashion and textile business to think the same way, writes Belinda Smart.
Such is the prevailing sentiment in today’s post- “golden age” era of Australian manufacturing that the idea of a local company that designs, makes and expor...

Sleepwear label wakes up to success

When Papinelle director Renae James happened upon a store that sold sleepwear in Venice during her travels, the idea to create a new label was formed. Dawn Adams reports. A sleepwear store in Venice captured the imagination of Renae James as she travelled across Europe more than a decade ago. She lingered there and made several purchases; boxer shorts, slippers and homew...

Less is more

Designer Mela Purdie has taken steps to fine tune her self-named collection to ensure it continues to build sales despite tough economic times. Dawn Adams reports. Ensuring a product has longevity, knowing how to keep a business operating for the long term and being able to encourage consumers to return to make purchases are among the valuable lessons Mela Purdie has gath...