Australian knitwear brand McIntyre Merino has opened it first pop-up store in Melbourne CBD in a bid to test its physical retail presence.
The brand’s entire collection across menswear, womenswear and accessories will be stocked at the pop-up, with 90 different styles available. Its range includes Merino wool.
McIntyre cofounder Ned Schofield Canapini said the brand is evaluating if this could lead to a permanent store.
The brand is currently stocked on The Iconic and David Jones, as well as through its own online store. It also operates various wholesale accounts in boutiques across Australia.
Canapini said McIntyre Merino’s sales have been up and down this year, citing that 2022 is a year of unpredictability.
“Online has been trending down slightly, which is partly due to the rising costs of advertising, and we think consumers are also looking for an experience when purchasing,” Canapini said.
“Despite the challenges, we have achieved double-digit growth in 2022.”
The brand designs all its products in Australia, with 30% manufactured in Melbourne and the rest in Vietnam.
“The downside of producing in Australia is that we are much more limited with what we can make here - in terms of both styles we can create and also the total output that knitters can deliver,” Canapini continued.
“Skilled workers are hard to find here, and the workforce is ageing. The upside is that minimums are smaller, and we can build strong relationships with our makers, creating a network and being more involved with the process.
“Manufacturing in Vietnam has been good - the quality is world-class and delivery is punctual.”
The pop-up store will operate until February 1, 2023.