The Sussan Group

2024 in Review: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Impact  As we reflect on the incredible journey of 2024, we are filled with pride and gratitude for the strides we’ve made across customer service, retail expansion, community impact, and leadership development. Here’s a look at some of our key achievements:  Customer Service Excellence    We’re honoured to have won the Roy Morgan Customer Service Award for Clothing Store of the Year for the third consecutive year.    Additionally, we ranked as the 6th Most Improved Brand in the 2024 BWA Australian Fashion Report for social compliance, reaffirming our commitment to ethical practices and sustainable fashion.  Retail Expansion    2024 saw the opening of 13 new stores, expanding our reach and bringing The Sussan Group experience to more communities:   Suzanne Grae: New stores in Forster, Gungahlin, Bathurst, Queanbeyan, Morayfield, Midland Gate, Wendouree, and Hallett Cove.   Sportsgirl: New locations in Busselton, Macarthur, and Morayfield, along with the launch of innovative store concepts at Melbourne Central and Chadstone.  Giving Back to Our Communities    This year, we’re proud to have supported:  *Breast Cancer Network Australia with special wellness and sleep products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month   *Donated $50,000 to Women's Community Shelters during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women  *Continued our support of headspace and raised funds for the mental health of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples  *Contributed to Co-Ground’s social impact initiatives through our in-house barista partnership Innovation & Awards    We were thrilled to win the Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Big Data, IT, and Business Intelligence Award in collaboration with Explorate, a testament to our dedication to innovation in supply chain management.  Leadership Development    We are committed to nurturing leadership within our teams. This year, we supported growth through programs like Celeste Halliday’s Connected Leaders program and Div Pillay from MindTribes Pty Ltd on Self Leadership. Our teams also worked together on circularity in fashion through the Seamless Product Stewardship scheme, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability, and participated in workshops with Melo Calarco on Staying Focused. Thank you to our incredible teams, partners, and communities for helping make 2024 such a transformative year. Together, we continue to make strides in sustainability, inclusion, and retail excellence.   #Sustainability #CommunityImpact #CustomerService #RetailExcellence #LeadershipDevelopment #Innovation #FashionIndustry #SocialGood #Growth

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth, Impact, and Achievements at The Sussan Group.    As we wrap up the year, we’re incredibly proud to share some of our key milestones and highlights from 2024. This year, our journey has been defined by business innovation, community and environmental impact, and a renewed commitment to purpose.  Purpose and Sustainability    *The Sussan Group achieved B Corp Certification, a huge commitment and undertaking for large high street fashion brands. The Sussan Group incorporates the brands Sussan, Sportsgirl and Suzanne Grae.  *Launched our Group Purpose: Making a positive impact in the lives of Australian women, our customers, team, suppliers, community, and planet.   *Introduced sustainable elements into our new store design for Sportsgirl.   *We are well on our way to sourcing 50% of cotton responsibly by 2025. Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Impact   *Welcomed Seona James, Managing Director of Indigenous Cultural Connections Pty Ltd, as an advisor and Reconciliation Action Plan Committee Member.   *Deepened our reconciliation efforts during National Reconciliation and NAIDOC weeks and are now working towards our Innovate RAP.   *Introduced Acknowledgement of Country plaques in stores back rooms, created by artist Rhys Paddick, to educate our team on local language relating to our store locations.   *Hosted HoMie Clothing Pathway Alliance interns, fostering opportunities for young retail leaders.   *Celebrated global events like International Women’s Day with Dr. Clara Vuletich (Future Fashion), Harmony Day, and World Sleep Day.  Which achievement resonates most with you? Share your thoughts below!   #SussanGroup #Achievements #PurposeDriven #Sustainability #DiversityAndInclusion #Innovation 

Suzanne Grae has partnered with the Remote OpShop Project to donate new clothing to First Nations communities. This initiative supports the establishment of op-shops in remote Aboriginal communities across Australia, helping them become self-sustaining social enterprises that address local needs. Since its launch in 2016, the Remote OpShop Project has connected with 30 remote communities in Northern Australia, impacting approximately 20,000 people. Tanya Egerton, the founder and CEO, highlights the challenges women face in these areas, where accessing affordable clothing can be a struggle due to distance and high costs.  'Suzanne Grae's donations have proven transformative. They provide access to high-quality clothing for women and girls and promote sustainability by extending the life of these garments.'  This initiative exemplifies the power of solidarity—empowering women and fostering self-determination, ultimately uplifting entire communities. With support from brands like Suzanne Grae, the Remote Op-Shop Project continues to create employment opportunities and enable communities to thrive on their own terms.  #CommunityEmpowerment #FirstNations #SocialEnterprise #Sustainability #SuzanneGrae #RemoteOpShop #CollectiveAction 

We're thrilled to share the evolution of our RAP Ambassador Network, now officially known as the Yanyubak Group (pronounced "yan - yoo - bak")! The name, which means "walk to (future)" in the Yorta Yorta language, reflects our commitment to reconciliation and respect as we embark on this inspiring journey together. With passionate members from various departments and stores, representing each of our brands and group departments, our group is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces and fostering genuine connections. In our first meeting, facilitated by Seona James from Indigenous Cultural Connections Pty Ltd, we explored how to be a true ally with First Nations peoples.   Guided by our four key pillars—education, resource sharing, community building, and allyship—we aim to deepen our understanding of First Nations histories, cultures, and rights. As we prepare for 2025, we are excited to expand our reach and impact. This initiative isn’t just about meetings—it’s about walking the talk. Together, we are paving the way for a future built on respect and meaningful action. #YanyubakGroup #Reconciliation #Allyship #FirstNations #CommunityBuilding #Education

Want to know why The Sussan Group became a Foundation member of Seamless? Listen to latest edition of the Seamless Leadership Podcast, to hear our Group Retail CEO – Rebecca Hard, talk about why Sportsgirl, Sussan and Suzanne Grae joined this innovative initiative for the fashion industry. Clare Press #SeamlessAustralia #ClothingCircularity

In keeping with The Sussan Group commitment to staying ahead of the curve with innovative, interactive and inviting store designs, Sportsgirl are excited to unveil the first of their new store concepts at Melbourne Central. Customers are at the heart of the vibrant new design created through collaboration with respected UK design agency Cardy Papa. Sportsgirl MD Leah Summers says the top priority was to provide an inclusive, safe, judgement-free environment for all Gen SG to experiment and play with the diverse collections and products. “The design reflects our fun, positive energy while celebrating the core of our brand. As the ultimate Aussie youth destination for fashion and beauty, we’ve crafted a space that merges bold, playful elements with moments of calm, offering the perfect blend of excitement and ease. Each category will stand out, showcasing the very best of our brand, all while supporting the needs of a fast-paced, volume-driven business,” she says. Design duo Alison Cardy and Christian Papa’s design philosophy is centred on developing the optimum and most inspiring customer journey. “From shopfront and windows to the various collections to service points and visual display, the customer journey needs to act almost like a pin-ball machine encouraging the customer to circulate the full space whilst seeing the breadth of the product collection.” “Each category needs its space to breathe and project; customers need strong visual merchandising moments to be inspired to shop a full look, and finally, the environment needs to support the sales team in providing excellent service, particularly around fitting rooms and cash and wrap.” In the new fitting rooms, the customer is encouraged to socialise in the adjacent lounge - a bold and uplifting instagrammable space with cool seating as well as ideas such as a messaging boards to encourage connections through the Gen SG community. As part of our collective commitment to the circular economy, Cardy Papa has retained and integrated existing architectural features that complement the new store concept. Wherever practicable, we have sourced materials locally and migrated the SG material palette towards sustainable options with EDP* certification. These include laminates, solid surfaces and plastics made from recycled paper, bio-materials and certified recycled plastic stock. All accent furniture has been sourced locally. The fitting room stools are crafted from 80% recycled post-industrial LDPE plastic, featuring a custom design that represents the iconic Sportsgirl stripes. Cutouts and leftover materials can be sent for recycling and reused. Even the new elements are ‘future-recyclable’. Leah says the team are excited to see the new store design come to life. “We believe is truly one-of-a-kind in the Australian market. There is no other brand out there like Sportsgirl—fashion with a purpose, on a mission to create better futures for the next generation.” Photography: Simon Shiff

Violence against women and children is an issue close to the hearts of Suzanne Grae team members and customers, which is why they have chosen to partner with Women's Community Shelters (WCS), an Australian charity working with local communities to set up crisis accommodation shelters for women and children at risk of homelessness or domestic and family violence. Suzanne Grae is proud to donate $26,000 in support of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25. A time to reflect, advocate, educate and donate, it also heralds the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism that runs from November 25 until December 10, which is Human Rights Day. This donation to WCS will allow 20 women over the age of 55 to live in safe and secure transitional housing for three months. Suzanne Grae has donated an incredible $141,000 since 2021. Suzanne Scozzi, Managing Director at Suzanne Grae, says the community partnership with WCS was inspired by feedback from team members and is a key pillar of their brand purpose. “As violence against women continues to escalate, the work WCS do in providing essential safe havens and services for women and children at risk of homelessness, domestic and family violence is vital, and a cause we are very honoured to support.” To support WCS, Suzanne Grae has also designed and developed a reusable canvas tote that is sold in stores for $2, of which 50 cents is donated to WCS. It’s a tangible way of women supporting women through a terrible time in their lives.

Our collaboration with Explorate has placed The Sussan Group at the forefront of innovative supply chain management and are delighted to announce that this year we have been awarded the prestigious Australian Supply Chain and Logistics (ASCL) Big Data, IT & Business Intelligence Award. “We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award in recognition of our transformative journey with Explorate,” said Robyn Batson, Group People & Community Partnerships Manager at The Sussan Group. “Our collaborative partnership has fundamentally shifted how we operate, enhancing both capability and process efficiency across our Supply Chain. We are now better equipped to focus on proactive planning, enabling us to deploy our resources more effectively and adding significant value to our Group” Conor Hagan, CEO of Explorate, highlighted the impact of the award-winning project on the retail sector: “Retailers manage incredibly complex supply chains, and logistics providers must simplify these processes for them. This project is proof that retailers don’t need to fear digitalisation or changing vendors—as long as they adopt a collaborative, data-driven approach.” The Australian Supply Chain and Logistics Awards, celebrates the achievements of Australia’s top supply chain and logistics professionals and organisations. The ASCL Awards spotlight industry excellence, fostering collaboration, innovation, and success across the supply chain sector. 

Our People & Development team recently participated in our cultural recruitment training session facilitated by Seona James of Indigenous Cultural Connections Pty Ltd. The Sussan Group has been working closely with Seona as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan throughout this year and this session was important for our team to understand Aboriginal culture and practices as part of our continued development of inclusive recruitment practices across our Group.    The truly engaging session with Seona was interactive and open, giving our team the time to ask questions and take in Seona's knowledge as part of our continued learning and our understanding of Aboriginal culture and the importance of cultural inclusion within our workplace.  Thanks so much Seona, it was such an impactful session, our team loved it and we look forward to working through our actions as we work towards our Innovate RAP! #treaty #FirstNations #reconciliation #IndigenousEmployment #ally Robyn Batson

Our team were honoured to be able to celebrate such an incredible evening last night at the HoMie Clothing Pathway Alliance Graduation!   The HoMie Pathway Alliance Program is for young people aged 18-25 who have experienced or been affected by hardship, barriers to employment, or homelessness and are ready to kick-start their working life.  The program offers a supported, paid, 8- month retail internship which runs from March to October each year and Sportsgirl are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with HoMie Clothing in their 2024 Program.    In April, we welcomed our HoMie Interns to our Sportsgirl Eastland & Doncaster stores and they were an immediate asset to our team showcasing their creativity, positivity, teamwork and how to put together the perfect fit for our customers!!    Congratulations to all of the HoMie Pathway Alliance Grads of 2024 and a big thank you to the HoMie Clothing Team for all of the work that you do with such authenticity, and impact.