Another major Australian retailer is moving into Tauranga - this time offering a wide range of outdoor clothing and equipment.
Mountain Designs, which has 36 stores in Australia, has leased the 500sq m of vacant space alongside The Baby Factory in Elizabeth St. After the re-fit, the new store is expected to open within two months. It will be the seventh Mountain Designs store in New Zealand, with two already operating in Auckland, and one in Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington and Nelson.
Mountain Designs in downtown Tauranga is camping alongside rival Kathmandu and increasing competition. Both retail chains offer hard-wearing, warm men's and women's clothing, footwear, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents and climbing gear. Kathmandu actually vacated the premises and moved next door into a larger store, where EziBuy used to be.
Duncan Woodhouse, of Colliers International, said the large format Australian retailer would bring a breath of fresh air to downtown Tauranga. Mountain Designs had been looking hard since July.
He said the bulk retailers regard Tauranga as a growth market - they see where the population is going and the city is definitely on their radar.