Our family-based company was started in late 2005 by
Bill and Paula Wallace, a couple who have been working in the textile
industry for many years. Bill is a business manager and Paula has been
designing textiles since a teenager, and together they had a dream to
build a bed linen business based on beautiful, quality cotton.
November the 10th 2010 officially marked the 5th anniversary of Wallace
Cotton. On that day back in 2005 we posted our first catalogue to a
database of only a few hundred, consisting largely of friends and family
as well as a few potential customers. The entire office and warehouse
was less than 200sqm, and we did not have a retail shop. Everyone
pitched in to answer phones, unload trucks and pack orders.
The customer base grew steadily through marketing and word of mouth from
happy customers. People began asking where they could go to see the
products before purchasing, so we relocated to the current premises and
opened a small store in Birkenhead in 2006. As the business and the
range grew, we again found ourselves without enough warehouse space, so
in 2008 leased the adjoining premises for extra office and warehousing
and enlarged the store to its present size.
Also in 2008 we began marketing into Australia, and began adding many
happy Australians to our customer list. Today we have over 5,000
customers in Australia, and one day soon we hope to open our first
Wallace Cotton store in Australia.
The Newmarket store opened in January 2009 in the heart of New Zealand’s
premier shopping district. It has introduced the brand to a lot of
discerning customers, and has taken Wallace Cotton to High Street
retailing alongside some of the leading fashion brands, and remains our
flagship store.
2010 was a very busy year, with concession stores opening in Ballantynes
and Arthur Barnett, the beautiful new Wellington and Takapuna stores
opening, and then recently, 3 new concessions opening in the 3 Home etc
franchise stores in Palmerston North, Napier and Tauranga.
In March 2011 we converted the Birkenhead store into an outlet store, selling samples, seconds and sale items.
So after 5 years we now have over 45,000 people on our mailing list and
we have 4 successful stores and 6 concessions within other stores. The
warehouse and office have expanded to more than 1,200 sqm and we no
longer hand-unload the trucks, a great relief to the girls in the
office!
The Wallace Cotton brand has become synonymous with good design and
quality, while also being affordable, and is now recognised by a growing
proportion of the shopping public. The range has expanded and evolved
with the growth of the company, but remains consistant with the
aspirational but affordable values portrayed in that first catalogue in
November 2005.
The Wallace Cotton philosophy is all about creating beautiful home
textiles for our customers, whether renovating, nesting, buying,
selling, entertaining or down-sizing. We know how fabric can change the
mood of a room, and affect people’s moods as well, (doesn’t your heart
beat faster when you see a gorgeous cushion or the perfect print?) We
keep a worldly eye on the latest decorating trends, so that our linen
range will harmonise perfectly with your interior design.
Our photography is designed to evoke the spirit of each range, and we
have been extremely lucky in finding stunning locations for our shoots.
There is a bit of magic that happens when the textiles and product
design process has been finalised, then the perfect location pops up! We
use the wonderful Charlie Smith to photograph our ranges, who has
amazing talent in both photography and art direction.
Most of our extended family and friends help out as models, stylists,
supplying locations or in production. We love family and friends!
Each seasonal collection is designed around a selection of gorgeous new
pieces, as well as classic bedlinen that has become the heart of our
collection so that customers can re-order their favourites.
Wallace Cotton remains proudly New Zealand owned and operated |
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