Ralph Lauren to open four more Australian east coast stores by October

Ralph Lauren, America’s 91st richest person with a US$7.2 billion personal wealth, stepped down as the CEO of Ralph Lauren Corporation in 2015 but remains its executive chairman and chief creative officer.

Ralph Lauren has opened its first standalone women’s store, in the Sydney CBD’s historic Queen Victoria Building.

The US-based fashion house has also just announced plans to open four more Australian stores in September and October.

Stocking both menswear and womenswear, they are located at:

  • Emporium in the Melbourne CBD;
  • Indooroopilly and Sunshine Plaza, both in Queensland; and
  • The Canberra Centre, in the ACT.

The lease commitments are part of the retailer’s strategy to ramp up its presence in Australia’s prestige shopping communities.

“Polo Ralph Lauren for Men is well established in the Australian market and we see an opportunity for our women’s business to grow as we further expand our offering across different channels,” the company told Inside Retail in this item.

“The store openings build on Ralph Lauren’s targeted expansion across Australia and around the world as part of its Next Great Chapter strategy to deliver sustainable, long-term growth and value creation”.

Another company brand, Polo Ralph Lauren, is sold via standalone stores and through distributors David Jones, Myer, Glue and online site, The Iconic.

Prior to the US company taking control of the Polo Ralph Lauren brand in 2013, it operated in Australia under a licence agreement.

Last November, we reported that another exclusive retailer, Tiffany’s, planned to open a pop-up store, also at Melbourne’s Emporium.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.