School Uniforms Get a Fresh Start: Uniform Group Takes the Reins from H & J Smith

H & J Smith and Uniform Group are excited to announce their collaboration to launch a new specialist school uniform store at a prime location in Invercargill. This comes after the formal agreement to transfer H & J Smith’s school uniform division to Uniform Group.

“Ensuring a seamless provision of high-quality school uniforms has been at the forefront of H & J Smith’s considerations as we decide to wind down our Department Store operations. In 2020, we had a triumphant collaboration with Uniform Group when we closed our Dunedin store. Within a remarkably short period, we created a new store under Uniform Group’s retail banner, THE U SHOP. We are enthusiastic about replicating this successful model,” states John Green, CEO of H & J Smith.

“H & J Smith has been in close collaboration with Uniform Group since 2020 to enhance the consistency of supply and affordability. This involved leveraging their comprehensive resources and expertise to create novel uniform alternatives for several of our primary schools,” John added.

The new store is slated for its grand opening in early September 2023. It will be located at the former Stewarts Pharmacy premises at 162 Dee Street, Invercargill.

“Dee Street was an obvious choice due to its strategic location, ample parking spaces, and impressive footfall. The store will feature a diverse range of school uniforms, hosiery, and school footwear, which includes the highly sought-after McKinlay’s school shoes,” mentions Ross Gordon, Managing Director of Uniform Group.

Uniform Group, a private enterprise in New Zealand, boasts 32 years of experience in fabricating and offering comprehensive and coordinated school uniform assortments to over 30 secondary schools across the country, including some of the largest institutions. About a decade ago, Uniform Group forayed into retail, introducing their retail label, THE U SHOP. Presently, Uniform Group has 16 stores scattered across New Zealand, combining both on-campus and community-based outlets.

As both a manufacturer and retailer, Uniform Group is poised to bring considerable advantages to the local community, notably in the form of significantly reduced prices on essential uniform components such as Blazers and School Shoes.

“Uniform Group places great emphasis on catering to the requirements of students and their families. We are thrilled to include Invercargill in our network of stores and pledge a seamless transition of these indispensable services, coupled with direct customer engagement. We also look forward to discussions with H & J Smith staff about potential job opportunities at the new store and will initiate the hiring process near the end of July,” adds Ross.