Australian beauty brand opens in NZ

Mecca MaximaAustralian cosmetics brand Mecca Maxima is opening its first New Zealand store at the inner city Christchurch ANZ Centre currently being built by Tim Glasson.

Formerly known as the Triangle Centre, it is in the heart of the new retail precinct opposite Ballantynes and The Crossing.

The 155 sqm store will open onto Cashel St directly opposite The Crossing, where TopShop recently announced it will open.

Mecca brand’s smaller luxury outlet, Maxima Cosmetica, is already represented at a counter in Ballantynes.

Mecca Maxima will stock a large number of beauty products from around the world, and offer a “brand-neutral service” where shoppers can navigate their own experience or seek assistance.

Perception of the area as a fashion hub is being moulded by the developers.

Office floors of the $80 million ANZ Centre will house ANZ bank staff and consulting engineering firm, Beca.

“The deals are starting to get done now. It takes a while to gain momentum, but now retailers can see that more and more office tenants are set to return to the CBD and that talk of having 15,000 workers back in the inner city within two years is far more than a pipe dream. Retail needs critical mass to achieve sustained success and that is what’s starting to happen,” says Glasson.

Glasson is in discussion with several other leading brands, with Hallenstein Glasson set to open a flagship store across two levels and ANZ and Beca taking the bulk of the office space, with only two small leases remaining.

The retail spaces are expected to be trading by next Christmas, with the office tenants operating by early 2017.

Founder and CEO, Jo Horgan, says the company is looking forward to opening its flagship NZ store in Christchurch in time for Christmas 2016.

“We are delighted to be opening our first Mecca Maxima store in NZ within Christchurch’s ANZ Centre in 2016. NZ is an important market for Mecca brands and we look forward to introducing our Mecca Maxima concept and unique brand mix to Christchurch.”

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