TWO COLOURFUL BRANDS UNITE IN ONE SHOP
Levin will get to hold on to its burgeoning identity as a fashion destination, thanks to a serendipitous series of events that resulted from the closure of the Caravan & Co Levin Mall store. “It’s amazing, the way it all fell into place,” says Emily Griffin, owner of Caravan & Co. Michelle from By Design Fashions happened to mention to Angela Buswell, owner of Superminx, that Emily was desperately searching for a new space in Levin. “This is Levin,” jokes Emily, “it’s almost as if people know what you’re thinking before you think it.”
The two owners were introduced, and quickly decided that their two brands complemented one another. Many people would visit Caravan & Co to buy an outfit for an upcoming special occasion. But Caravan & Co had never stocked shoes before, and Emily saw that customers could now get an entire wedding outfit in one visit.
After eighteen years of operation, Ange had decided to wind down the Superminx business. “I loved the feel of the space, and I felt like I could learn a lot from her,” says Emily. Ange had always built strong systems in her business which enabled her to multitask, running multiple retail locations at the same time as serving as a Kāpiti Coast District Council member and now a Real Estate Agent. Ange also had a strong sense of responsibility to her remaining staff member, and the continuation of the shop meant that they could keep working.
Both brands are alike in that they step away from the mainstream. The combined store looks set to evolve into a miniature
department store. Emily is planning a trip to Morocco this year where she hopes to source homewares, and is also mulling over opening on Sundays to meet the increased traffic of people moving to and moving through Levin.
The move was suitable as it allowed Emily to keep a presence in Levin, which had thoroughly embraced the Caravan & Co brand since it opened in August last year. With her home in Levin, the shared space allowed her more flexibility to spend time with family.
The new store will open just two days after the Levin Mall store closes, and the team are busy preparing. “We’re just going to walk across the road with our signs and everything,” says Emily. “We’re going into a collaborative model rather than a competitive model,” says Emily. Is the move a part of a grand vision of Levin as a fashion destination? Only time will tell.
Check out Caravan & Co and Superminx’s new combined store, opening Monday, at 194 Oxford Street Levin.