H&J Smith Gore Store To Re-Brand Under New Ownership

H&J Smith have today (Tuesday 25th July) confirmed that a major long-term supplier, Longbeach Holdings Ltd of Christchurch, will takeover the H&J Smith Gore branch at the end of August.

Longbeach Holdings, an accomplished manufacturer who design and wholesale a wide range of quality apparel also operate a number of their own retail stores trading as APT Collections.

Other parts of the Invercargill store including Armoury Fashion Boutique on the corner of Esk & Kelvin Streets will be taking over by Fashion Buyer Tania Roderique effective 14 August 2023, while Gun City will be taken over by parent GunCity Christchurch. Previously announced the school unifirm business is being setup in the old Stewarts Pharmacy site on Dee Street.

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The new store will stock many of the ladies fashion labels the store is currently known for but will also introduce other labels that Longbeach produce. All current employees will be retained and transfer to the new store.

John Green, H&J Smith Chief Executive, said that his company was delighted with the arrangement which would ensure continuity for both the community and the instore team.

General Manager Longbeach Apparel Christchurch, Jane Coleman said that they are very excited to have the opportunity to introduce more of their product ranges to Gore, to engage the store staff and provide quality fashion to a discerning community.

This will follow a similar move in early 2021 where Longbeach took over the Mosgiel store which was previously owned by H&J Smith. In addition, we are very pleased to be including menswear in the Gore offer through our sister company Swanndri, with a selection of both Swanndri and Line 7 clothing.

Mr Green expected the store to trade as H&J Smith until Saturday 26th August which would be the last day that customers could use their H&J Smith Charge Card and Giftcards in the store. These services would still be available in the Invercargill Department Store until 18 November and at Invercargill Mitre 10 Mega until 28 February 2024.

Background:
H&J Smith Department Stores in Invercargill and Remarkables Park, Queenstown, are set to close mid- November 2023 following the company’s decision to call time on its Department Store business.

Mr Green said that there had been interest in a number of areas of the business. An announcement had already been made re the transfer of the school unform business to a new store to open in Invercargill at the end of August. Mr Green said that further announcements would be made in the coming weeks.