Just a month after R.M.Williams swung open the doors to its Willis Street store in Wellington, the iconic Australian lifestyle brand – best known for its hard-wearing hand-crafted boots built to withstand Australia’s tough conditions, critters and all – has opened its flagship store in Auckland. While R.M.Williams has been present in the New Zealand market for around 30 years, the 2013 acquisition of almost 50 per cent of the business by a capital equity group backed by fashion giant Louis Vuitton is helping to attract new customers to the brand. Chief executive Raju Vuppalapati said sales and interest in the Wellington store had exceeded expectations, with a number of younger shoppers, and significant sales in footwear a surprise. Demand for premium and luxury products in New Zealand had also been a factor in the company’s expansion, he said.
The Auckland store, with a prime position right at the very bottom of Queen Street on Customs Street East, is the first in the world to offer R.M.Williams’ Bespoke service in its full capacity. “This is the first retail store to offer Bespoke in its entirety,” said Kirsty James, the Bespoke Project Manager for R.M.Williams while on a visit to New Zealand’s flagship store. The service, which allows customers to customise the legendary men’s Craftsman boots and women’s Adelaide boot from a select range of exclusive leathers, will roll out to flagships stores across Australia in the following in months, and a new London and New York store will both open with a Bespoke table.
Alongside the bespoke offering, customers will find an extensive collection of R.M.Williams’ best products including a range of new boot styles, the brand’s well-known handmade plaited belts, crafted leather wallets and men’s and women’s fashion.
R.M. Williams is open now at 8 Customs Street East, Auckland. Take a peek inside the new store below.
