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Ironlak Opens Third Flagship Store in Chermside

Good news for all art buffs looking for supplies and inspiration in Chermside! Ironlak Art & Design opened its doors recently at Shop 2629, Level 2 of Westfield Chermside.

“Black Japan” theme of the Ironlak Chermside
(Photo credit: www.ironlak.com)

Ironlak’s Chermside branch is its third flagship store in Australia, and the first Ironlak store to open in a shopping centre. Every Ironlak Art & Design store has a unique theme that gives the location a distinctive individuality. For the Chermside store, the Brisbane store’s “Black Japan” theme was adapted and then updated to fit the shopping centre vibe, with dark timber framing and strips of white neon light.

Beautiful artwork from the Art Show in Sydney
(Photo credit: www.ironlak.com)

Ironlak is more than just an art supplies store. A proud 100% Australian-owned company, the company initially gained recognition for their first product, their signature aerosol spray paint.

As the company expanded, their product range also broadened until they became known for carrying different art supplies, from paints and inks to sketchpads and canvases. Today, their production is largely based off-shore.

Ironlak is also a home that helps artists enhance their creativity through different exhibitions all around the world. The Ironlak Family is a family of artists including artists in Australia, intriguingly represented by these anonymous code names: LINS, MEKS, SIRUM, SOFLES, TUES, and VANS THE OMEGA.

He really “DOES” the wall mural very well.
(Photo credit: www.ironlak.com)

Every store has a large raw concrete wall dedicated for an actual artwork rendition from an artist-member of the Ironlak Family. In Chermside, DOES of The Netherlands spent a few days creating a beautiful mural with just Ironlak Acrylics, aerosols, paint, fresh concrete, a hammer, and a chisel.

Watch DOES in action and get a glimpse of his amazing piece of art. Better yet, visit Ironlak Chermside and view it for real.

Something for everyone in Ironlak
(Photo credit: www.ironlak.com)

Ironlak Chermside has a complete range of their bestselling products, including paint and ink markers, acrylic and oil paints, watercolour paint, Sugar Artists’ Acrylic spray paint, colour pencils, drawing pens, canvas, and other art supplies. Test benches for product trials and Ironlak apparels showcasing art and graffiti are also available in-store.

Click here for the store hours or check their website for updates on store openings and new products.

 

TK Maxx meets Chermside

Been wanting to get that Louis Vuitton or Gucci bag, but worried about the stiff price tag? Hoping to get a good deal? Worry no more. TK Maxx is here. This famous UK retailer of high-end brands opened the doors of its Chermside branch at 725 Webster Road in late April. During the opening, 1,000 lucky early shoppers received special gift bags.

TK Maxx’s splashy fashion show launch in Australia (Photo credit: www.tkmaxx.com.au)

The Chermside opening is one of the latest in a flurry of store openings as TK Maxx officially launched its Australia operations last month. As of this writing, all of the outlets in the country are officially open.

 

Treasure Hunt Shopping at its Finest

Who can resist a massive discount such as this? (Photo credit: Joe Mio/Pinterest)

TK Maxx is known for the treasure hunt shopping experience where shoppers strive to look for and declare dibs on purchasing limited products of high-end brands for around half of its original price. Shoppers find this “Big Brands, Small Prices” approach irresistible.

Although men’s and women’s apparel, designer bags, shoes, and kids’ apparel are what the store is famous for, there are also sections for housewares, accessories, cosmetics and beauty products, and toys.

TK Maxx buys its products all-year-round, unlike other retailers that buy stocks only during peak season. Every store has unique items that you aren’t likely to find at another store, or even the same location, once it runs out. Like at any other TK Maxx store, you can expect the “thrill of the find” experience in the Chermside store.

“Because of the way we buy, we have several deliveries per week with thousands of new products hitting shop floors. This means that no two stores are the same, and with new products arriving regularly there will always be something new & fresh for shoppers to discover on a visit to our stores,” Tessa Buenen, TJX spokesperson, said in an interview with Inside Retail Australia.

Sections inside a TK Maxx store (Photo credit: www.malls.com)

Buenen also added that their departments are well-coordinated so they can easily adapt to the newest trends without major disruptions in merchandising and display. Everything is new. There are stocks of designer bags and shoes, and kids’, men’s, and women’s apparel that are constantly being updated.

“We … merchandise by size to make it easy for customers to shop – so for example, if a customer is looking for a dress and they’re a size 10, you’ll find all the size 10 dresses in one rack together. It makes it really easy to shop with us,” Buenen said.

 

TJ Maxx-TK Maxx, What’s the diff’?

TJ Maxx in US (Photo credit: www.glassdoor.com)

In 1976, a company called TJ Maxx was founded by Bernard Cammarata in Massachusetts under the nameplate Zayre. It was later renamed as TJX Companies, Incorporated, when Zayre sold its nameplate to its rival discount store.

As the store continuously spread to Europe in 1994, the name TJ Maxx was changed to TK Maxx to avoid confusion with the British brand TJ Hughes. In the US, the stores are all still called TJ Maxx. Elsewhere in the world, the retailer operates under the TK Maxx brand.

For its Australia expansion, TK Maxx has taken over 35 former Trade Secret locations all across the country. The Trade Secret chain was sold to TJX, the parent company of TK Maxx of UK and TJ Maxx of US, for $80 million back in 2015. Eight of the new TK Maxx stores are located in Brisbane, in Alexandra Hills, Browns Plains, Fortitude Valley, Macgregor, Morayfield, Oxley, and Ipswich.

 

TK Maxx Shopping 101

There’s one rule that everyone should follow when shopping at TK Maxx, “If you love it, grab it!” You never know if the item that caught your eye will still be there when you come back.

Here are some useful tips shared by Courtney Smith, an international fashion stylist, on how to effectively shop in a TK Maxx store.

Prepare your pocketbooks, drop in on the Webster Road store, and be pleasantly surprised at the deals you can get, just like these satisfied customers.

“… love TKMaxx here, also great for good haircare.” — Joanne John

“… another reason to come home” — Tory Tanner

TK Maxx. “Big Brands, Small Prices? Yes way!”

 

TK Maxx Chermside

Chermside Set to be Home to the Biggest Westfield in Australia

Chermside shopping centre will be bigger than Westfield Sydney and Bondi Junction come June 2017.

Something big is happening in Northside Brisbane as Westfield Chermside undergoes expansion, which will make it the largest Westfield in all of Australia.

Westfield is upgrading its shopping centre as part of a $355-million redevelopment. Work on the upgrade started in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in June 2017. The first part of the redevelopment saw the opening more than 50 new stores, including the much-anticipated opening of Sephora’s first Brisbane store.

The shopping centre opened Level 2 Gallery Mall on April 6, led by Sephora, Zara and H&M. Also opening on the second level are Brisbane-based Ironlak Art & Design, M.A.C. and other leading brands in fashion and accessories, beauty and sportswear.

Fashion and Entertainment Destination

Once the upgrade is completed in June 2017, Westfield Chermside would be the biggest of all Westfield shopping centres in the country. With the planned expanded retail area and the new look for the centre, it is projected to outperform the Westfield retail centre in Sydney and Bondi Junction in terms of profitability.

The centre’s redevelopment involves adding some 33,000 sq m of retail space. Westfield Chermside manager Garth Haslam said that the improvements will turn the Chermside retail centre into the destination for fashion and entertainment.

After the upgrade, the shopping complex will have more than 500 retailers under its roof. It will have a wide selection of retailers from Australia and from around the world.

 

The Sporting Globe’s Chermside Success Spurs $10-M Investment in QLD

The Sporting Globe is preparing to invest $10 million into five new Queensland franchises of the hospitality brand, after the recent success of Western Chermside’s outlet. The sports bar and grill had a successful launch last February in Queensland and is doing very well at its impressive location.

James Sinclair, owner of the said business, shares: “On our third day we had the Super Bowl, and with very little publicity, we were fully booked out with over 400 people at 9 am on a Monday.’’ After spending over $2 million on The Sporting Globe Chermside, Mr. Sinclair is keen on securing more sites in South Brisbane and in the Gold Coast area.

The Sporting Globe in Australia

The hospitality chain was originally founded in Geelong, a city in Victoria. Founders James Sinclair and Brad Harris started the business in 2010. It experienced massive growth in a span of 12 months. Two new venues and annual earnings of $15-20 million were among its early achievements.

Its first Australian franchise opened in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 2014, the fourth company-owned venue, after Geelong, Moonee Ponds, and Fountain Gate.

A second franchise at Watergardens in Northern Melbourne opened last October. From then on, several new venues in Werribee and other nearby areas are being set for construction.

The Company’s Assets: Its People

James Sinclair opted for a franchise business, rather than a company-owned brand to be able to secure the company’s most important asset: its people. Motivating this group to do their job well is what the business values the most. Sinclair believes that this method will help build a strong business model, thus creating high-quality franchisees.

The Sporting Globe in Chermside currently employs 40 people. More job opportunities through five more establishments in Queensland are expected within the next three years. The sports bar and grill concept has filled a gap in the marketplace, given a strong Australian following of Australian and US sporting events.

Photo Credit: The Sporting Globe Chermside/Facebook

Sephora to Open First Brisbane Store in Westfield Chermside

Brisbane is in a frenzy as Sephora Australia announces the opening of its store in Westfield Chermside on April 6.

Long queues of make-up fanatics are expected on the opening date, similar to the Sephora store opening in Sydney and Gold Coast.

Libby Amelia, country manager of Sephora Australia, is thrilled about the opening. “Launching our first ever Brisbane store is a very exciting time for Sephora Australia. After such great success with our Pacific Fair store launch on the Gold Coast, it was clear that we needed to bring a SEPHORA store offering to the sunshine state capital and with many of Brisbane’s beauty junkies already shopping with us on Sephora.com.au, the new Westfield Chermside development was the perfect answer,” she said.

Sephora saw long queues and more than 700 people camping out when it opened its doors in Gold Coast. Larger crowds came to the opening of its Sydney store, with some of them even camping out for days.

Beauty addicts are drawn to Sephora for its wide selection of beauty and make-up products, free samples, appealing displays and international brands not usually sold in Australia.

Huge Opening Day

Sephora’s Brisbane launch is expected to be one huge event, especially as it coincides with the opening of the Level 2 (Gallery Mall) of Westfield Chermside. Sephora will join retail giants Zara and H&M, and 47 other stores, as they open on  that date.

The Brisbane store will feature some brands that will be exclusive to the Sephora store, including the HUDA brand, a brand created by an Instagram influencer with some 8 million followers.

The Sephora store will also have its Beauty Studio, offering customers one-on-one expert beauty services.

Customers can get to try free samples provided by the store to help them see which make-up brands work best for them. Just like any typical Sephora store, the Westfield store will offer make-up application and mapping services to guide customers as they look for beauty products.

Opening day is expected to be a blast, with freebies, treats and balloons all around. Customers can get giveaways and discounts by following Sephora on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Advocacy Group Fights for Development Priority for Suburbs

As development projects continue to pour into Brisbane CBD, an advocacy group is fighting to make suburban areas such as Chermside, Springwood and Ipswich become the priority for funding and infrastructure projects.

Suburban Alliance believes that policymakers are overlooking the suburbs as they continue to focus on urban renewal. The city has achieved great strides in urban development in the last 15 to 20 years, but throughout those years, the suburbs have been neglected.

Ross Elliott, a property industry figurehead, noticed that while the number of jobs in the suburbs accelerated faster than inside CBD, this has not translated to similar increase in development projects in the suburbs.

Mr Elliott believes that there should be more focus to turn suburbs such as Chermside, Ipswich, North Lakes and Springwood into centres for education, employment, health, business and technology.

Master-planned business park projects in Eight Mile Plains and Cannon Hill are just two examples of business hubs being built outside the CBD. Mr Elliott thinks that creating such suburban hubs would help address property affordability issues across Queensland.

As Property Supply Increases, More Chermside Lessors Offer Free-Rent Incentives

More and more lessors in Chermside are offering enhanced tenancy incentives just to lure prospective tenants.

A growing number of property owners in Chermside are providing some free rent to attract prospective tenants. This comes as a result of stronger housing supply in the suburb and the rest of Brisbane.

A year ago, property investors were giving away freebies such as gift cards or electronic gadgets to lure would-be tenants. But now, lessors are offering so much more for the tenant. Reports have it that the rent-free incentives in some of the best developments in the area can run as long as four weeks.

New Apartment Projects for Chermside

The property supply is expected to further expand as new construction projects get underway.

Chermside is reported to have one of the highest concentration of apartment properties approved for construction in the Brisbane area. According to a research study conducted by Momentum Wealth, there are a total of 704 apartment projects approved for construction in Chermside.

Other suburbs with the biggest number of approved apartments include South Brisbane with 2,084 projects, Brisbane City with 1,731, Newstead – Bowen Hills with 1,493 and West End with 846 projects in the pipeline.

The increasing volume of housing property construction is expected to affect rental income and capital growth for investors. However, the increase in construction projects is not likely to cause an oversupply in the real estate market as the number still falls within the 10-year average.