Gold Coast inclusive lingerie retailer DeBra’s opens Broadbeach store
A Sydney-based business has chosen the Gold Coast to launch a new store, saying its unique offering would fill a “massive gap in the market.” FIND OUT THE DETAILS
Business
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SYDNEY-based lingerie business DeBra is opening a store on the Gold Coast.
It sells specialty bras and lingerie including for women with larger busts and plus size.
Owner Debra Kinney said her new Broadbeach store was the only one of its kind from the Gold Coast to Brisbane after similar stores closed last year.
Brisbane lingerie retailer Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore went into liquidation in December 2020, owing about $2.2m to unsecured creditors, and Southport’s Bras in Paradise moved online and to an appointment-only studio.
“I really believe there’s a massive gap in the market,” Ms Kinney said.
“We are the only store on the Gold Coast and surrounds where women with a larger bust can be properly fitted for a bra and swimwear.
“It’s a little bit like going to the dentist, getting a bra fitting, but it doesn’t need to be like that.
“Being properly fitted for a bra is empowering.”
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Ms Kinney said the decision to open a Gold Coast store amplified after an explosion in sales during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Business exploded online about two months into COVID. I’ve been in business for 21 years and never seen anything like it.
“We ladies never take time for ourselves and I think we just had the time to sort out getting new bras.
“Then when the shop reopened … (customers) just came in and it was like a Saturday every day.”
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She said her daughter Katie Kinney would run the Gold Coast store after moving to the city from Sydney about two years ago.
“My daughter’s worked with me in the business for five years.
“She moved to the Gold Coast about two-and-a-half years ago and we always talked about expanding.
“Then her and her partner came to stay with me in March last year and then COVID hit and they stayed with me for a year.“In that time we decided that’s what I’m going to do.”DeBra’s will open on Saturday, April 24 at 10/2633 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach.
‘Spurred on by COVID’: Coast business’ unique survival plan
GOLD Coast Skydive has taken the plunge and bandied together with five other family-run businesses to help boost its market power during the COVID-19 downturn.
Managing director Archie Jamieson said the new group, Skydiving Australia, included businesses in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.
He said they were able to leverage their combined size to obtain improved pricing on advertising and procuring equipment such as parachutes.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about for years and I guess it was spurred on by COVID,” he said.
“There are two businesses you don’t want to be in during a pandemic and that’s aviation and tourism and, unfortunately, I’m in both.
“We have to think outside the box and get more bang for our buck.”
Mr Jamieson said the grouping would enable the businesses to compete against corporate giant Skydive Australia, which is owned by listed company Experience Co.
“It is hard to compete for the little guys. Small business is tough regardless of what business you’re in when you are up against the corporates.
“What they can spend on an advertising campaign is what I turn over.”
Mr Jamieson said his business was forced to shut for three-and-a-half months during COVID-19.
He said it forced him to take a long, hard look at his business.
“I had that opportunity to sit down and have a really close look at what was going on and where the money was going and what was necessary,” he said.
“I had to let go of a few (staff) but it was the perfect opportunity to put a broom through the place.”
Mr Jamieson said he was surprised at the strength of the turnaround in his business.
He said by October he no longer had staff on the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
“That locals market really looked after us. There were a lot of people who normally went to Bali who came to us for an experience at home.
“The amount of repeat business we had was absolutely phenomenal.
“We had people back for their second, third, fourth jumps.
“Suddenly, we were back to 70 per cent (of pre-pandemic business) and we’re making it work.”
The other businesses in the Skydiving Australia group are SA Skydiving, Skydive Jurien Bay, Skydive Capricorn, Skydive Nagambie and Skydive Oz.