Pumpkin Patch (retailer)
| Founded | 1990; 34 years ago |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sally Synott |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Australia & New Zealand |
| Products | Children's and babies' clothing |
| Owner | Alceon Group |
| Website | pumpkinpatch |
Pumpkin Patch is a New Zealand childrenswear retailer. Established in 1990, it focuses on the design, marketing, retail and wholesale of children's clothing to customers in Australia and New Zealand.[1]
History
[edit]Before receivership
[edit]The company was founded in New Zealand in 1990 as a mail order catalogue by Sally Synott. At its peak, the company was valued at over $NZ830 million and employed over 2,000 people. It operated over 180 stores across Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Asia, Ireland, the Middle East, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.[2]
In 2010, the company 48 stores around New Zealand, including 18 in Auckland.[1]
In 2014, the firm began to experience declining revenues and margin compression due to competition.[3]
By 2015, the company had helped raise $NZD600,000 for the children's medical charity Cure Kids.[4]
In 2015, a Roy Morgan survey of Australian consumers identified Pumpkin Patch as having the best customer service in the children's clothing category.[5] In the same year, it also received an award for customer service from Essential Baby Magazine for customer service.[6]
Following receivership
[edit]In October 2016 the company was placed into receivership.[3] The receivers closed seven New Zealand stores and 52 Australia stores.[7]
In February 2017, all remaining retail stores closed following a three month fire sale.[8]
in March 2017, the company was placed into liquidation.[3]
In December 2017, Pumpkin Patch was acquired by Catch Group, and relaunched as an online store in both Australia and New Zealand.[9]
In 2018 the company was bought by Alceon Group. Pumpkin Patch products became available through EziBuy, online and in physical stores, and there were plans for a full re-launch in 2019.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Pumpkin Patch". pumpkinpatch.co.nz. Pumpkin Patch. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010.
- ^ McCauley, Dana (1 December 2016). "How Pumpkin Patch went from boom to bust in less than a decade". news.com.au. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^ a b c "Pumpkin Patch put into liquidation after failure to find buyer". Stuff. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Our charity". Pumpkin Patch. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ Feek, Belinda (30 April 2015). "Pumpkin Patch rates top on Australian shopper survey". NZ Herald. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "Essential Baby Awards 2015". essentialbaby.com.au. Essential Baby. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ Edmunds, Susan (4 November 2016). "More Pumpkin Patch stores to close". Stuff. Stuff.
- ^ Keating, Eloise (23 January 2017). "Pumpkin Patch to close within weeks". Smart Company. Private Media.
- ^ "Catch Group to relaunch Pumpkin Patch after buying IP". Australian Financial Review. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "Investment firm to relaunch Pumpkin Patch in New Zealand IP". The National Business Review. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.