Action aplenty as the Harbour Town line-up swells

04.Mar.2009

SPEEDO is the latest in a line-up of more big brands to dive into Harbour Town, capping a busy few months for the Gold Coast’s award-winning outlet shopping destination.

A Speedo outlet store opened at Harbour Town this week , following a string of new leases to high profile sportswear and fashion labels including French Connection, Universal Store, Lacoste, Marco Polo, Steve Madden and local success Unit Clothing.

SPEEDO is the latest in a line-up of more big brands to dive into Harbour Town, capping a busy few months for the Gold Coast's award-winning outlet shopping destination.

A Speedo outlet store opened at Harbour Town this week , following a string of new leases to high profile sportswear and fashion labels including French Connection, Universal Store, Lacoste, Marco Polo, Steve Madden and local success Unit Clothing.

The new drawcard outlets and a recent $8 million investment in refurbishment by joint owners The Lewis Land Group of Companies and ING Real Estate are strong signals of confidence.

Trading has been buoyant, defying the economic downturn, with recent figures showing a significant lift on the previous year, according to Harbour Town's centre manager, Candy White.

“December 2008 turnover was up 12 per cent on the corresponding period in 2007, and January showed a 13 per cent increase,” Ms White said.

Ms White said Harbour Town's strong performance was due to its appeal to shopping-hungry international and domestic tourists as well as local residents, and reflects a constant focus on expanding and improving the range and mix of major brand outlets.

“Also, in a way, the tough economic times may contribute to our buoyant trading because shoppers, still wanting quality, are searching for the best bargains on trusted brands.”

Speedo, occupying 97 sqm, has relocated from a Brisbane outlet centre following the success at Harbour Town of its True Alliance Retail stable-mate Lacoste, which opened in the Biggera Waters centre last October.

True Alliance Retail is a major Australian and New Zealand distributor of sport and fashion brands also including Reebok, Rockport, Ben Sherman and The North Face.

The 113 sqm Lacoste Outlet Store is the first clearance outlet in Australia for the famous 'crocodile' label, complementing five flagship Lacoste retail stores located in Sydney and Melbourne.

Gold Coast-based Unit Clothing, one of Australia's fastest growing action sports brands, has just relocated its Unit Factory Outlet from Molendinar to Harbour Town to capitalise on the centre's amenity and tourism appeal.

The 150 sqm store, taken on a two-year lease, is Australia's only signature outlet for the brand that was founded in a Gold Coast garage in 2002 with only a screen printing press and capital of $600.

In just six years, Unit has become a multi-million dollar enterprise and its motocross and BMX-themed apparel, headwear and accessories are sold online and through 450 stockists in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, USA and Japan.

“Our first month trading at Harbour Town has been a huge success with turnover increasing significantly,” said Unit Clothing creative director, Paul Everest.

Another of the latest Harbour Town additions brings the trend-setting designs of New York footwear and fashion mogul, Steven Madden, within the affordable reach of Gold Coast shoppers.

The 120 sqm Steve Madden Outlet opened last Friday (February 19).

Other newcomers are national women's and men's fashion and accessories label, French Connection, which has taken a large 232 sqm premises for its first Queensland outlet, and Universal Store, which has opened a 191-sqm Harbour Town outlet stocking over 50 labels including Mooks, Havaianas, Lee, Wrangler, Stussy and Mossimo,.

Style-conscious bargain hunters have also welcomed a 93 sqm Marco Polo Factory Outlet opened by up-market domestic apparel name, The Hopkins Group, part of major PAS Group fashion wholesaler whose portfolio includes other big names Yarra Trail, Jag, Capelle, Fiorelli and Metalicus.

Rounding out the new mix at Harbour Town is an outlet for EB Games, Australia and New Zealand's largest video game retailer representing popular platforms including Playstation, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and DS.

Since opening in late 1999 as Australia's first purpose-built outlet shopping destination in a regional shopping centre, Harbour Town has built its offer to more than 120 outlet stores.

Locals and visitors flock to shop for designer discounts on quality fashion and homewares samples, production overruns and seasonal clearance lines on sale every day.

Recent Tourism Research Australia data showing shopping to be the second most popular holiday activity for international visitors and the fourth most popular for domestic tourists, confirms shopping as a major tourism driver for the Gold Coast.

Harbour Town's new attractions join its established collection of outlets for world famous brands including Nike, adidas, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lisa Ho, Tommy Hilfiger, JAG, Lonsdale, Oroton, Sheridan, Villeroy and Boch and Aussie icon R.M. Williams.

Akin to a shopping 'theme park', the centre integrates the outlet shopping adventure with specialty and convenience shops and a major alfresco dining and entertainment precinct of restaurants, cafes and the Gold Coast's largest cinema complex.

Harbour Town has been recognised with a string of international and national design, shopping industry and tourism awards, including a Tourism Queensland Award for Excellence in tourism retailing.