Splish Splash to close Cairns Central store after 32 years
After three decades in a popular shopping mall, a Cairns-based bikini business will close its doors, but it won’t be gone forever. Where you can find them now.
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After three decades in a popular shopping mall, a Cairns-based bikini business will close its doors but it won’t be gone forever.
Splish Splash Swimwear, a Cairns-based family business, first opened its doors in Port Douglas in 1993, before moving into Cairns Central n 1998.
Splish Splash founder Frances Westley said she opened the store to diversify business in the Far North.
“We had Crocodiliacs, which was t-shirts, but then the Chinese (souvenir shirts) came in, in the late 80s,” Ms Westley said.
“We had great screen printers here in Cairns … but then the Chinese hit the market with really cheap white cotton T-shirts so we thought we have to diversify and get into something else.”
Ms Westley, then opened the first Splish Splash store in Port Douglas, before opening storefronts in Cairns Central, The Pier precinct and DFO.
Taking over from her mother Ms Westley, store owner Renee Abery said Splish Splash always had a strong focus on supporting Australian labels.
“Some of the brands like Sea Folly, we’ve been supporting them and they’ve been supporting us for the last 30 years,” Ms Abery said.
In addition to supporting local, Ms Abery said it was important for the ‘bikini store’ to reflect body diversity and positivity.
“We’ve got fashion styles for everybody and with body positivity, we make sure we’ve got a really good range to support all body shapes and carry (items) that make (customers) feel comfortable,” she said.
“In our marketing we do try to represent as much as we can with diversity and women’s bodies.”
Ms Abery said the store carried a range of sizes from children's to men’s, and size 26 in ladies.
While Ms Abery said it was sad to move the store away from Cairns Central, cost-of-living costs were a significant factor in their decision.
“The cost of everything has gone up – the cost of living, it’s expensive at the moment – costs of running the business as well, so for us downsizing was an important step and was our best option,” she said.
Ms Abery said the store would also focus on its online market, and credited a loyal local fanbase for the business’ success.
“Like all Cairns businesses, we rely on a strong tourism industry, but (although) we’re retail, we really are tourism up here, and we’ve got a great local following and support from locals that we are very thankful for, and we wouldn’t have a business without them,” she said.
Splish Splash Cairns Central will close at the end of March.
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Originally published as Splish Splash to close Cairns Central store after 32 years
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