Fashion-forward meets forward thinking

Kiwi fashion and technology work seamlessly to enhance global business

Once upon a time a Kiwi with an eye for an opportunity discovered a gap in the market for quality, design-driven kidswear for New Zealand families.

Launched as a catalogue company in 1990, Pumpkin Patch's popularity quickly grew allowing it to introduce retail stores, designed as an inviting space to shop stress-free with children in tow.

Today Pumpkin Patch employs more than 1,800 people and has over 170 stores and wholesale operations in 24 markets globally.

It's the company's connection with customers, like giving kids cartoons to colour in while their parents shop, that's helped grow Pumpkin Patch into one of Australasia's most popular children's clothing retailers.

Interestingly, in today's world of electronic screens, making an impact with print still plays and important role in our business, Pumpkin Patch General Manager of IT, Seton Chandler, says.

Brother has been part of the Pumpkin Patch story since 2008. Sitting alongside them as a business partner, the pair collaborated to find a print solution that worked across New Zealand head office and its 50 retail stores, enabling them to respond quickly to market changes and deliver high quality retail executions.

"Each week we have price changes, promotions, and merchandising requirements that need to be rolled out nationwide. With Brother printers in all stores offers can get to the market that day, as opposed to up to a week later with centralised print and delivery."

Before Brother became part of the Pumpkin Patch crew, Seton's team of IT helpdesk technicians would manage SOS calls and organise replacement toners.

With its 7-days a week Kiwi helpdesk, Brother has freed up more than 500 hours a year for the Pumpkin Patch tech team, allowing them to focus on growth projects and core operations, Seton says.

Thrilled by the initial time and cost savings, Pumpkin Patch took the relationship one step further with Brother Imaging Solutions Group's Consumables Replacement Programme. This offers printers and toner replacements as a service, automatically replacing consumables when a company needs them, before they run out.

"Our monitoring software tells us when the toner is running low across the 50 stores. We can send replacements before they run out, so there's no downtime. And they're only billed when the consumables are supplied," Brother Chief Operating Officer, Matthew Stroud, says.

"This solution enables Pumpkin Patch to maintain a state-of-the-art fleet of printers without capital outlay, so it's a pure OPEX offering and 100 per cent tax deductible."

Brother also took care of the installation process. Within a week all New Zealand stores had their old printers removed and replaced by slick, new, space-saving Brother printers, all supported by the great service Pumpkin Patch has grown accustomed to.

As Pumpkin Patch continues to identify and prioritise the strategic initiatives it needs to drive business performance and long-term growth domestically and internationally, its New Zealand retail operations can get on with what they do best - looking after their parent-customers and offering them a stress free environment to shop, knowing Brother's taking care of all their print needs.

"The printers simply work, like switching on the lights, letting us get on with running the business. It's fantastic," Seton says.

Brother ISG helped Pumpkin Patch find a business solution that helps them stay ahead of the competition. For more information on how Brother ISG can benefit your business, and for your FREE business audit, please visit www.brotherisg.co.nz or call 0800 426 272.