Shock & Oar Sails Against Retail Tide with Sales Up 15% and Plans to Move Into US Market
Fremantle, Australia, March 04, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Australian clothing brand Shock and Oar has sailed against the retail tide, posting a 15% year over year sales increase in December 2010, compared to an Australian average of around 3%. Managing Director Brendon Westerhout says the figures are the result of a milestone year for the company.
“Over the past year we have established new manufacturing sources and streamlined our design, production and delivery process. We have navigated the economy with a ‘slow and steady’ approach, and most importantly delivered clothing collections that were very well received,” said Brendon.
“We are confident 2011 will bring continued business growth as we take Shock & Oar into overseas markets,” said Brendon.
After two years in the Australian marketplace the nautical leisurewear brand is returning to its roots with plans to market to the US and European yachting market. According to Brendon Westerhout the move is a natural progression for a brand that is all about casual sophistication around the water.
“With Shock & Oar we have created a uniquely Australian clothing brand with the look and feel of the nautical lifestyle we enjoy,” said Brendon.
“From the outset Shock & Oar was designed to be an international brand and accordingly we have created a business model that can be taken almost anywhere in the world through franchise and licensing arrangement. We have had customers from every continent in the world keen to take home a piece of Shock & Oar, and are confident it will be an attractive and saleable brand in the yachting industry,” he said.
Shock & Oar retails via its flagship store in Fremantle Western Australia, as well as online www.shockandoar.com and through select Australian retailers. The brand’s move into the international yachting market will involve a multipronged strategy of online, wholesale and direct marketing and sales to yachting stakeholders.
A true Nautical Heritage.
This is familiar territory for company owner Brendon Westerhout, whose 30 year career in the marine industry has included more than 20 years on motor yachts. In 2000 Brendon was head-hunted by golfer Greg Norman to be the Build Captain on his motor yacht Aussie Rules (69.5m) – the largest Aluminium yacht built at that time.
Ironically, it was through this project that the seed for ‘Shock & Oar’ was sown. Brendon and build engineer Shane Dingle acquired a reputation for being tenacious in their dealings with the shipyard, gaining them the nick name ‘Shock and Awe’. This was later changed to ‘Shock & Oar’ and the brand concept was born.
In late 2008 Brendon and wife Deirdre started the company in Western Australia, a State with one of the highest rates of boat ownership per capita in the world*. They began online and were soon supplying Shock & Oar merchandise to local boutiques before opening their own store in the port city of Fremantle in mid 2009.
“We were very encouraged by the public response to Shock & Oar and decided to take the business to the next level with our own retail store,” explains Deirdre Westerhout, Director Sales and Marketing.
“There is no doubt the GFC had a significant negative impact on local retail, and we were no exception. However we were small and streamlined enough to adjust stock and staffing costs as the market place required. We implemented sales strategies to boost turnover and undertook targeted marketing and promotions which delivered good return on investment,” said Brendon.
“The results are encouraging. While most clothing retail has experienced negligible growth in the past year, we have managed to achieve positive sales growth over the past four quarters despite the fallout from the GFC.
“In the past year we have also achieved momentum in our design, production and distribution channels, allowing more regular drop dates in store and online. New fabric suppliers and manufacturers are key to our fresh, distinctive range. And we are very excited about our 2011 autumn/winter range now in production,” said Brendon.
“We are a lifestyle brand with a true nautical heritage. Our product and brand are world class with a broad-ranging demographic appeal, attractive price point and efficient and effective customer service delivery. These factors combined will give us the impetus to carve our niche in the US and European markets,” said Brendon.
For more information about Shock & Oar Australia including wholesaling, licensing or franchise enquiries please contact Brendon Westerhout on +61 414 685 640 or email Brendon@shockandoar.com
Media Contact
Brendon Westerhout
Ph +61 (0) 414 685 640
email brendon@shockandoar.com
For wholesale enquiries email wholesale@shockandoar.com
www.shockandoar.com
Product samples available for review and showcasing.
* Boat ownership statistics courtesy Tourism Western Australia, Government of Western Australia.
###
“Over the past year we have established new manufacturing sources and streamlined our design, production and delivery process. We have navigated the economy with a ‘slow and steady’ approach, and most importantly delivered clothing collections that were very well received,” said Brendon.
“We are confident 2011 will bring continued business growth as we take Shock & Oar into overseas markets,” said Brendon.
After two years in the Australian marketplace the nautical leisurewear brand is returning to its roots with plans to market to the US and European yachting market. According to Brendon Westerhout the move is a natural progression for a brand that is all about casual sophistication around the water.
“With Shock & Oar we have created a uniquely Australian clothing brand with the look and feel of the nautical lifestyle we enjoy,” said Brendon.
“From the outset Shock & Oar was designed to be an international brand and accordingly we have created a business model that can be taken almost anywhere in the world through franchise and licensing arrangement. We have had customers from every continent in the world keen to take home a piece of Shock & Oar, and are confident it will be an attractive and saleable brand in the yachting industry,” he said.
Shock & Oar retails via its flagship store in Fremantle Western Australia, as well as online www.shockandoar.com and through select Australian retailers. The brand’s move into the international yachting market will involve a multipronged strategy of online, wholesale and direct marketing and sales to yachting stakeholders.
A true Nautical Heritage.
This is familiar territory for company owner Brendon Westerhout, whose 30 year career in the marine industry has included more than 20 years on motor yachts. In 2000 Brendon was head-hunted by golfer Greg Norman to be the Build Captain on his motor yacht Aussie Rules (69.5m) – the largest Aluminium yacht built at that time.
Ironically, it was through this project that the seed for ‘Shock & Oar’ was sown. Brendon and build engineer Shane Dingle acquired a reputation for being tenacious in their dealings with the shipyard, gaining them the nick name ‘Shock and Awe’. This was later changed to ‘Shock & Oar’ and the brand concept was born.
In late 2008 Brendon and wife Deirdre started the company in Western Australia, a State with one of the highest rates of boat ownership per capita in the world*. They began online and were soon supplying Shock & Oar merchandise to local boutiques before opening their own store in the port city of Fremantle in mid 2009.
“We were very encouraged by the public response to Shock & Oar and decided to take the business to the next level with our own retail store,” explains Deirdre Westerhout, Director Sales and Marketing.
“There is no doubt the GFC had a significant negative impact on local retail, and we were no exception. However we were small and streamlined enough to adjust stock and staffing costs as the market place required. We implemented sales strategies to boost turnover and undertook targeted marketing and promotions which delivered good return on investment,” said Brendon.
“The results are encouraging. While most clothing retail has experienced negligible growth in the past year, we have managed to achieve positive sales growth over the past four quarters despite the fallout from the GFC.
“In the past year we have also achieved momentum in our design, production and distribution channels, allowing more regular drop dates in store and online. New fabric suppliers and manufacturers are key to our fresh, distinctive range. And we are very excited about our 2011 autumn/winter range now in production,” said Brendon.
“We are a lifestyle brand with a true nautical heritage. Our product and brand are world class with a broad-ranging demographic appeal, attractive price point and efficient and effective customer service delivery. These factors combined will give us the impetus to carve our niche in the US and European markets,” said Brendon.
For more information about Shock & Oar Australia including wholesaling, licensing or franchise enquiries please contact Brendon Westerhout on +61 414 685 640 or email Brendon@shockandoar.com
Media Contact
Brendon Westerhout
Ph +61 (0) 414 685 640
email brendon@shockandoar.com
For wholesale enquiries email wholesale@shockandoar.com
www.shockandoar.com
Product samples available for review and showcasing.
* Boat ownership statistics courtesy Tourism Western Australia, Government of Western Australia.
###
Contact
Shock and Oar
Brendon Westerhout
+61 (0) 414 685 640
www.shockandoar.com
Brendon Westerhout
+61 (0) 414 685 640
www.shockandoar.com
Contact
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