COMPANIES TO WATCH: RODD & GUNN

“Expansion” and “Experiential” are the two buzzwords that Rodd & Gunn has been aggressively pursuing in recent seasons. The New Zealand-based company is set to have 12 U.S. storefronts by the end of 2020, with four openings targeted for next year.

According to CEO Mike Beagley, Rodd & Gunn’s target demographic is 30+, their aesthetic blends dress-up with dress-down at accessible pricepoints (woven shirts and pants in mostly Italian fabrics average $148 retail, sportscoats are $398) and marketing is mostly digital, social media and in-store events.

Their North American expansion began with their 2016 flagship opening in Newport Beach, along with L.A. and New York launches. They’ve grown into a $100 million menswear brand showing no signs of stopping, with more planned brick-and-mortar stores (averaging 1,600-3,200 square feet) across the U.S., U.K., and Asia as well as a healthy wholesale business in the States including Trunk Club, MartinPatrick3, Darien Sport Shop, and Rothmans.

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Most exciting, their new lifestyle concepts will merge retail and dining via a partnership with Michelin-starred chef Matt Lambert (a fellow Kiwi and owner of The Musket Room in New York). The restaurant/bar/retail spaces are truly magnificent, creating a perfect backdrop for the men’s fashion. (Notes Beagley, “The first decision I made when I joined this company was to drop the women’s apparel.”)

Another notable aspect to the Rodd & Gunn business: their collection of bench-made New Zealand luxury luggage and leathergoods. Using only the finest Italian-tanned leather and farmed New Zealand deerskin, Rodd & Gunn offers repairs and restoration free of charge as well as numerous bespoke options.