Having worked as a sportswear consultant in China, headed sales for surfwear brand Quicksilver in the South of the UK, and undertaken a surfing OE around America, Steve was equipped with the right background to turn the idea a reality.
He launched the Fallenfront.co.nz website starting with nine brands which has now, after two years, snowballed to more than the 40 it now features. It now includes brands such as I Love Ugly, Sly Guild, Federation, Bellroy, Herschel Supply Co, Huffer, Zanerobe, Just Another Fisherman, and more.
"I had been in that industry so I understood what was required to look after a brand," said Steve.
"I was working during the day in England, so I was doing my normal job, then planning this at night. I must have done that for about three or four months. I got back to New Zealand and worked on it for another four months. I had all the planning, but then I had to get the site built and tested."
He said like a "bricks and mortar store", the clothes are bought wholesale and sold at retail prices, but the convenience is not having to leave your home to buy top brands.
"The perception of online shopping is it is convenient, but people are worried they might buy something that wasn't quite right. We eliminate those by getting it to them fast, returning it for free if it doesn't fit. There is no obligation if it arrives and they're not happy with it."
Steve said they do not believe people should have to pay for the convenience of online shopping, so delivery is included in the sale price and items bought before 5pm are delivered the next day.
"That is how we benefit customers over international sites, because returning off shore is pretty hard and costly and takes a long time. It is all about the customer. The way the business is set up is to treat the customer how I would want to be treated - it's common sense really."
Handling of the products is different from a retail store as each item has to be carefully described and photographed on a model before it can be listed on the website.
Steve said one of the challenges for them as an online store is the promotion of the business.
As the store is not on a street, bringing people to the site and making the general public aware of the business can be a challenge.
"We have grown relatively organically. It means the profits have been reinvested back into the business to expand it in terms of stock, improve the quality of the sales platform, and marketing. It is getting people to be comfortable with online shopping. People are getting used to it, it's like going to a bar down the other end of town and no one really goes there, but once three others set up there everyone seems to congregate there."