Rockwear ready to hit expansion trail
AN ACTIVEWEAR brand for women started in a garage on the Gold Coast almost 30 years ago is to open new stores around the country, including in Townsville.
Rockwear, which has been in the Townsville market for six years, will open a new store at Stockland today followed by another opening at CastleTown next week.
Rockwear, founded by Adam and Steph Rock, was bought by the Retail Apparel Group in 2016 which, in turn, was bought by one of South Africa’s largest retailers, The Foschini Group, in 2017.
Rockwear Queensland operations manager Rebecca Task said they were ready for continued massive growth in the gym wear market.
“We are opening new concept stores which are four times the size of the previous outlets. This is because we are a business that has ex- perienced huge growth and have massive growth plans for the future,” Ms Task said.
Rockwear, which has 39 outlets in Australia, is opening six new stores in Queensland ahead of Christmas.
Townsville team member Pam Kopittke, who has been with the brand since it opened in the city, said they would have about 20 employees after starting with just four in 2012.
“I think there has been an increase in people’s awareness about the need to keep fit and healthy,” Ms Kopittke said. “That’s obviously been good for our brand.”
Retail Apparel Group owns the Tarocash, Connor, yd., Johnny Bigg and Rockwear brands while The Foschini Group, with revenues of more than $ 2 billion, owns brands including Fabiani, Markham, DueSouth, Charles and Keith, Colette and Next and has more than 3000 outlets worldwide.