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Hannahs celebrates 150 years in business
Cobbler in Hannahs Leed Street Factory. Image supplied.
One of New Zealand's most beloved footwear retailers, Hannahs, is celebrating their 150 year anniversary this year. Founder, Robert Hannah, opened his first footwear store in Charleston in 1868 and R. Hannah & Co. Ltd (trading as Hannahs) currently has 50 stores across New Zealand and has been loved by Kiwis for generations.
Did you know Hannahs was originally known for producing high quality boots for gold miners on the West Coast? Today, Hannahs is currently the largest retailer of leading international footwear brands such as Clarks, Hush Puppies and Keds in the country selling mens, womens and childrens footwear, with their headquarters located in Porirua. The original Hannahs factories were located in Wellington and the brand has a proud history of supporting New Zealanders through generations of employees and customers alike.
"The culture is very entrepreneurial while still maintaining family values. It's a good sized company where you feel like you're making an impact and our small and nimble senior management team can often be found working at store level," says Hannahs Director of Merchandise and Design, David Gordon, who began working in the industry while still at school. "So although I've been with the Hannahs team for 21 years, this pales in comparison to the many long-serving team members we're privileged to have, including some who have recently celebrated 30 and even 50 years of service within the Hannahs family. It's a testament to the values and integrity instilled in the company from the very beginning."
Every New Zealander has a Hannahs story says General Manager of Operations, Stephen Cook, and he is proud to work alongside former employees such as Richard Johnson, a direct descendent of Robert Hannah as part of the Hannahs brand. "The longstanding heritage of Hannahs is instilled in the brand with many New Zealanders able to recall without hesitation their own Hannahs story – whether it was the place they bought their first school or rugby shoes, they're a current or past employee or know Hannahs as the place they shop for quality shoes at great value prices," he said. "This is why we feel the 150 year milestone for this Kiwi brand is significant not just for the company but for all New Zealanders."
Symphony Shoes Hannahs ad (left), Women's shoes on display at Hannah's in the past.
Images supplied.
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