Sweet Pumpkin

The story is not about the poor girl who was dumped by her father in Australia. I found a kiwi brand is popular in other countries, so I can't wait to tell you about it.

The magazine ‘Metro’ of April 2007, written by David McEwen, reports that Kiwi brand ‘Pumpkin Patch’ successfully transcends the normal retail industry. The title ‘Sweet Patch’ implies immense rewards it recently has. Trace back to 1991, ‘Pumpkin Patch’ was a store with one mail order catalogue, and it is now 100 stores in NZ, Australia, Britain and USA. Moreover, on May 2004, it bought 14-store HBK girls’ clothing chain from Hallenstein Glasson. Furthermore, by Dec. 2006, sales grew by 19.5 percent to 180.6 million. It is an encouraging and pride story for a New Zealand company. The executive chairman is exciting to say: “It is an iconic business international and a great kiwi brand.”

In my analysis, the idea and strategy contribute to the success. One hand, it sells children’s clothes, apparently those are the style of adult fashion that children always want to dress like their parents. On the other hand, consumerism is a global ideology, even children know that in the store they can get what they want, and parents will please them by supporting the goods they like. I envy the company’s achievement; however, the success reminds me that parents seem kidnap by children in these days. They might have to work more hard to support their need.

I got the information on the magazine in the Auckland library, and the Metro website displays only current edition. I think it is bad thing for internet user that can't get its previous edition. But you can find more successful stories while click 'people' and then 'profile' on this website: http://www.metrolive.co.nz/people/profiles/tabid/213/Default.aspx